Break a leg - Heal a broken heart
Yesterday, our Community Correspondent for the theater talked about the latest run of Hairspray at Roger Rocka’s Dinner theater. He talked about how good the show is, and how fine the lead, Ashley Wilkinson, is as she plays Tracy. Here’s his blog: http://www.kmph.com/Global/category.asp?C=172090&nav=menu612_5_2#
I’d like to add to Dean’s commentary- a little back-story.
The lead in this play is showing the most amazing strength of character, it brings many who know her to tears.
Ashley is living with a ravaging disease called Mitochondrial Disease. Mito What? Exactly. It’s a disease that isn’t widely known or understood. Simply, its when the mitochondria cells (which are supposed to give our bodies energy) go haywire and attack the body. Over the last year the pain has increased greatly for Ashley. It knocks her down. She spends time at the hospital or at home hooked to an IV of medicine to help ease the pain and give her body energy. Nothing can cure this.
Despite this, she made it to grueling practice night after night. Then, a week before opening night, her younger sister died. For 18 years her sister, Brittany bravely fought mitochondrial disease and sadly died from complications.
I saw Ashley before opening night, at her sister’s funeral. Many of us wondered how we could go on stage with such a broken heart. She did, to 6 standing ovations!
I want you to know about that too, when you see the show. It adds to Ashley’s talent, poise and fabulous voice.Break a leg, cast of Hairspray.
I’d like to add to Dean’s commentary- a little back-story.
The lead in this play is showing the most amazing strength of character, it brings many who know her to tears.
Ashley is living with a ravaging disease called Mitochondrial Disease. Mito What? Exactly. It’s a disease that isn’t widely known or understood. Simply, its when the mitochondria cells (which are supposed to give our bodies energy) go haywire and attack the body. Over the last year the pain has increased greatly for Ashley. It knocks her down. She spends time at the hospital or at home hooked to an IV of medicine to help ease the pain and give her body energy. Nothing can cure this.
Despite this, she made it to grueling practice night after night. Then, a week before opening night, her younger sister died. For 18 years her sister, Brittany bravely fought mitochondrial disease and sadly died from complications.
I saw Ashley before opening night, at her sister’s funeral. Many of us wondered how we could go on stage with such a broken heart. She did, to 6 standing ovations!
I want you to know about that too, when you see the show. It adds to Ashley’s talent, poise and fabulous voice.Break a leg, cast of Hairspray.
Ashley is a truly inspiring person.
ReplyDeleteKIm--this is so well said. You encapsulated who Ashley is in just a couple of paragraphs. Aside from her leading role in "Hairspray," she is an amazing young woman. Thanks for highlighting her talent and strong character.
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