Articulations
A tragic accident for a local dancer; the loss of a great state drama teacher.
By Robert Faires, Fri., June 9, 2000
A Dancer in Need
An Austin dancer is fighting for her life in a San Francisco hospital after a tragic accident during a performance in that city. On May 25, during a visit to the Bay Area, Lisa Baltich was performing outdoors when part of her clothing caught fire. By the time the flames were extinguished, Baltich had third-degree burns over 70% of her body. She was taken to St. Francis Hospital in San Francisco and remains there in its burn center. Needless to say, her condition is extremely serious and will necessitate her being hospitalized for many months for costly treatment and physical therapy. Unfortunately, like so many artists, Baltich has no health insurance and won't be able to meet these costs alone. To help her and the members of Baltich's family who have gone to San Francisco and will try to stay there throughout her long recovery, Baltich's friends are soliciting donations. Anyone wishing to help can send a contribution to Baltich's cousin, Misty Wade, in care of Patrick McGarrigle, 1001 Maufrais St., Austin, 78703. For additional info, call 477-6897.
In Memoriam
A sad addendum to Sarah Hepola's story on UIL One-Act Play Contest ("All the Way to State," May 12, 2000): One of the competition legends died just after this year's state finals. Jerry Worsham, the director with the most titles in contest history, passed away May 15 in a Lubbock hospital following a two-year battle with leukemia. The 62-year-old educator spent 34 years at Snyder High School, during which he took his students to state 26 times and came home with state titles 13 times. For those who saw them, Worsham's shows are memorable, not just as exciting high school theatre but as exciting theatre, period. His influence extended far beyond Snyder, through 10 years he spent teaching at the annual UT Summer Theatre Workshop for high school students. Despite the severity of his illness these last two years, Worsham kept teaching, and though he did not get a play to state this year, he still came to the finals, to watch with a group of his students. It was just after that May weekend that Worsham developed an infection from which he couldn't recover. A public memorial is being held June 17 at the Scurry County Coliseum in Snyder. Former students are said to be coming from as far away as New York and Australia. The Jerry P. Worsham Drama Education Foundation is being established in the teacher's memory to fund educational programs for drama students. Contributions may be sent to: Snyder National Bank, 1715 25th St., Snyder, Texas 79549.
June Is New Theatre Month
Here's a new tradition I'd like to see every June: new theatres opening. Last week saw the debut of the new upstairs cabaret space at The Hideout, 617 Congress (next to Wendy's). If you hurry, you can still catch the first show in that space, The Essence of Comedy, written by Adam Sobsey and produced by Salvage Vanguard Theater. It runs through Saturday, June 10, 8pm. Call 448-1674. Then, in just one week, another new theatre will be opening up: The Blue Theatre, a 75- to 100-seat venue crafted from the warehouse/studio space of Blue Genie Art Industries, 916 Springdale. Refraction Arts artistic director Ron Berry is busily readying the space for his company's premiere of The Butcher's Daughter by Austin expatriate Jennifer Haley. It opens June 15. Call 459-6212 for info.
