Ten years ago, my wife came to me and said, “I signed our son up for a Shakespeare class.”

“Sounds fun.”

“They are looking for parent volunteers for things like set building and concessions and someone to video it.”

“That’s nice.”

A week later she said, “they are still looking for someone to do the video.”

And like a good involved father I said, “I hope they find someone.”

A few weeks later, she snapped at me, “Will you just do the video!”

“Fine,” I said, thinking that the quality of performance I expected from middle school and high school students would only warrant holding up a cell phone to record the event.  I went to one rehearsal and said, “Damn…It’s good. I can’t half-ass it.”  I produced videos of 10 plays, multiple graduation videos, blooper reels, and teasers in partnership with another parent volunteer, Sean Connor.

Lastly, I produced this short piece on Jen and Jesse, who run the program. I think it speaks to the value of teachers and why they do it. If nothing else, it’s my letter of appreciation for what they’ve done for my children.

Mike Palumbo