A letter from The President at Blueberry Pond…
-
- October
- 8
Got the following note from Jean-Paul DeVellard, the president and founder of Blueberry Pond Theatre Ensemble.
“Mr. Kramer,
“It was brought to my attention that in your blog of October 2, 2007—- Play Readings: Part of the Process—- you wrote the following: The Invitation Came from Cynthia Granville, who helped start Blueberry Pond Theatre Ensemble in Ossining…and has moved on to start her own company: The Supporting Characters.
“I must say that it certainly came as news to me that Ms. Granville “helped start Blueberry Pond Theatre Ensemble”. As the original founder and President of Blueberry’s Board of Directors, I am certainly in a better position to correct the record about who helped “start” my own company than anyone else. Ms. Granville joined Blueberry well after it had been “started” or founded. I of course commend Ms. Granville for her efforts while she was with Blueberry and wish her only the best in her future professional pursuits. She did not, however, help found Blueberry.
“Thus, I would respectfully request and appreciate that at your earliest convenience you correct this error in your blog of October 2, 2007. I am sure you can understand how those who actually did assist in the founding of Blueberry might feel about the hard work and creative efforts being ascribed to someone else.
“Thanking you in advance for correcting this error in your blog, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Jean-Paul DeVellard
Consider this a correction. For the record, Cynthia contacted me the next day suggesting the same correction. I told her that as the first artistic director for the company under its Equity contract, she had, indeed, helped start Blueberry on its way. Still, I respected the distinction and only a hectic work schedule has kept me from making the correction, till now.
When you get an email from The President, attention must be paid.
Incidentally, Blueberry Pond presents “Hong Kong,â€? a play by Lloyd Pace—whose play got the reading that was the focus of the now-corrected blog posting—from Nov. 2 through Dec. 2.
This entry was posted
on Monday, October 8th, 2007 at 6:59 pm by Peter D. Kramer.
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Peter D. Kramer
Thank you Mr. Kramer for your correction to your October 2 blog giving Ms. Granville credit for having “started” Blueberry Pond Theatre Ensemble—- even though it was correction with caveat. There is no way for me to know whether, as you write, ”...Cynthia contacted me the next day suggesting the same correction. I told her that as the first artistic director for the company under its Equity contract, she had, indeed, helped start Blueberry on its way.” Whatever conversation you may have had remains between the two of you.
But the fact is, she never helped start Blueberry Pond Theatre Ensemble at all—- whether under Equity contract or not. And this is the unfortunate thing about journalistic “reporting” when the reporter has not done his or her homework. Blueberry’s first “production” was in the barn on our property on Blinn Road in Teatown in November right after 911, and it was a fundraiser for the victims of 911. We held the fundraiser in our barn and presented two plays: “Our Lady of Larkspur Lotion” by Tennessee Williams and directed by Roger Simon, as well as a musical adaptation of “Spoon River Anthology”, directed by Cara Caldwell-Watson. Our Artistic Director at that time was Lora Lee Ecobelli, who, in actuality, did indeed help start Blueberry Pond Theatre Ensemble. Our friend, the late great Kim Hunter, was in the audience that night. It was the day before her birthday, and we gave her roses before we kicked off the production and fundraiser for 911. It was an incredible evening of theatre and people totally committed to theatre that, in the end, whether noted in the media or not, really matters and makes a difference. We raised more than 4,000 for the victims of 911. THAT is how Blueberry Pond Theatre Ensemble was “started”—- and by those people. Cynthia Granville was unknown to us when we were “starting” Blueberry.
Hey, Pete, why don’t you interview ME, the Founder of the Ensemble, and let me share with your readers the true genesis of Blueberry Theatre ensemble?
Okay, the literary/journalistic gauntlet has been thrown.
Interview me, Pete.