Photo by Robert Dennick Joki

“I am a super mother bug!”

Last week, our lead in the Oakland’s upcoming production of Bug, Terri, and I talked about the difficulty of yelling that line. This week, suddenly, I feel like yelling it all of the time, if for no other reason than to make my children think “Mom’s losing it. We’d better settle down,” and then they’d probably bring me pillows and diet cokes and all would be well.

So, this is the show…THE SHOW… that has been the larger body around which Reg and I (and many, many others) have been orbitting for the past week or so. I’d forgotten what it was like to be married to an actor because Reg hasn’t done a show for years. Responsibilities are a little mommy-heavy this week, and add to that that I’m one of the production coordinators of the show, and yeah, it’s been a little bit buggy. We’re doing everything from stage combat to negotiating buy one get one bug light deals at Lowe’s. And we’re eating a lot of soup.

Did I really say that I’d bake four dozen cookies? What was I thinking?

But here is the deepest secret that nobody knows. Here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud.

I love it. I love the energy, I love the comradry, I love the giving-all-for the show vibe that’s permeating nearly every facet of my life this week. There’s nothing like it. My role is entirely supportive. Mostly, I sit in awe of the talented people who are really making it happen (you know who you are). So, I’ll bake the cookies and get the bug lights and run the microscope down to the theater and dig through my plant containers looking for rocks that resemble teeth because it’s for the show. THE SHOW.

I hope you’ll come and see it.

Here’s the official Press Release:  In light of the economic climate, The Oakland Center for the Arts will be offering several discounts during the run of Bug, the opening show of 2009. Performances are February 20, 21, 27, 28, March 5, 6, 7, at 8 pm and March 1 at 2 pm.

Directed by Robert Dennick Joki and featuring Terri Labedz, Ron Aulet, Ric Panning, Lisa Skerkavich, and Jim Canacci, the dark drama follows a couple on a slow descent into madness in a seedy motel room.

During the opening weekend, all students who show ID will be admitted for only $5. Regular student tickets will be $10 the following two weekend.

$5 discounts are being offered to anyone who shows a ticket stub from the Pavlik fight at the Chevy Centre. Also, Military members will receive a $5 discount with proof of ID.

Regular ticket prices are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 55 and over, and $10 for students. Group rates are available for parties of 10 or more. Ticket price also includes admission to the Star Gallery, where artist Gail Trunick’s work will be on display through March 7.

Reservations can be made by calling (330)746-0404. Visit oaklandcenter.com for more information, and check out myspace.com/oaklandcenter for additional internet-only discounts to be announced.

The Oakland, a non-profit community theater and arts organization, is located in downtown Youngstown at 220 W. Boardman St.