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Jim Krist

(Emperor, "Androcles and the Lion")
 

What CHASF means to me ...

This year marks my third festival with the project. I have seen much growth, in production size, attendance, and my participation. I don't want to sound overdramatic (but the actor in me says, "oh, what the hell!"), but I love the festival. It means the world to me. It has become a part of who I am. It is in my blood. It's in every breath I take.

The biggest joy is my association with the people. They are by far the most talented, creative, wonderful, caring souls I have ever had the privilege to know. It is a pleasure to work with them.

From my stage roles (why am i always typecast?) to the administrative tasks (how do you fit 900 folks into a 50 gallon drum?), my festival experiences have left an indelible mark on my existence. This may sound strange, but part of me is that drunken bum and the "flamboyant" duke. I can't fully express the joy I receive as I walk down Franklin St. and hear a child shout and point "Rabbit! Rabbit!"

I am so proud to be able to say I am associated with the festival. And I can't picture myself not being part of it.

CHASF memories

I always wondered what effect the CHASF performances have on our audience. I found an answer one day after my first summer with the festival. During CHASF 5 I was playing Rabbit in Satchmo & Izzy. One weekend several months after the festival completed, I was walking down Franklin St. and I passed two children and their mother. Suddenly the children recognized me. They began tugging at their mother, while pointing at me. They shout "Mommy, Mommy, Rabbit! Rabbit!". I said hello to the children and began a brief conversation with the mother. She told me how the children had been singing the theme song every time they drive anywhere in the car. The kids would sing "Satchmo and Izzy, two crazy cats" and then they would beg their mother to sing the refrain. The children wouldn't stop begging until the mother answered, "That's the way I like 'em and I like 'em like that!" I was truly amazed to find children who remembered the show and the songs months after the festival had completed.

June 13, 1999