I read with great interest your article about Julianne Palma and
her effect she has on her students. Last year, at the age of 56, I
decided to take her Children’s Repertory Theatre class. It took all
the courage I could muster, but there I was in a sea of 19 to 21
year olds and asking myself, what I’m I doing here? She asked us
all why we were taking her class and I said,
”
I am going through a mid-life crisis and her class was cheaper
than a new Thunderbird,
”
or something like that.
I read with great interest your article about Julianne Palma and her effect she has on her students. Last year, at the age of 56, I decided to take her Children’s Repertory Theatre class. It took all the courage I could muster, but there I was in a sea of 19 to 21 year olds and asking myself, what I’m I doing here? She asked us all why we were taking her class and I said, “I am going through a mid-life crisis and her class was cheaper than a new Thunderbird,” or something like that.
Through her and her encouragement and her requirement that we all respect one another and not criticize or make fun of someone’s acting ability, I found it possible to reach deep down inside myself and find and awaken my dreams as a youth. Sometimes when you reflect about lost dreams and misplaced ambitions it can be little sad and you ask yourself, what if. Well Julianne took my “what if” and made me feel and see that I am not the only one to have not reached my goal in life and it is never too late. She gave me the tools to look ahead, and enjoy and have fun with my performance in the play we put on for children. Every time I look at the photos my husband took of the play and all of the cast it brings tears to my eyes, and I feel such gratitude for a teacher who saw more that just an older person, sitting very uncomfortably on a hard stage floor.
I will continue, in my quest, to act in stage performances next year. As I told Julianne (according to General MacArthur), “I shall return.”
Thank you, Julianne Palma. Where were you when I was 18? Oh yeah, not born yet. Oh well, better late than never.
Patricia Hurley,
Hollister
