First and foremost, we want to wish you, our family and friends, a very Happy New Year, 2026. May this year bring you good health, happiness, special times with your family and may you achieve all the goals you have set for yourself.
We are happy to report that 2025 was less eventful in the health department for Rick than previous years – in fact, he managed to get through the year with just regular visits to the cardiologist and no mishaps! No excitement to report there. Jenni, as always, is the picture of good health.
Jenni has had a busy year theatrically. January and February were taken up with daytime rehearsals for the Venice Theatre Silver Foxes show, due to play from March 10th to 16th. While this was going on, she held auditions for Nana Does Vegas to be performed at Charlotte Players from May 15th to 25th. Rehearsals began at the end of March for this final show of the 2024-25 Season.
Just for fun, Jenni was a California Raisin in the Silver Foxes show:
We took the opportunity of a break between seasons to fly up to Michigan to visit family, arriving on July 4th. We stayed with Val and John at their beautiful home on Silver Lake in Fenton. Val is Rick’s niece. From there we got to visit with Fran and Patti, Rick’s two older sisters, both of whom had recently moved into assisted living and Vicki and Jim – Vicki is also a niece of Rick. You can see full details of our visit in another blog post
Getting back to Florida on July 10th, Jenni was at it again directing the first show of the 2025-26 season – Looking, scheduled for performance in September. Shows always take a minimum of five weeks rehearsal.
News came from Australia in September that Colin, Jenni’s first husband, had died on September 1st, aged 88, with his final words being “Where’s my glass of wine.” A comedian to the end!!
As soon as Looking was over, we headed off to Missouri to visit our kids and grandkids who had recently moved to St Louis. You can read more about this in this blog post.
Throughout the year, Rick was kept busy with his real estate business, buying and selling houses for friends and acquaintances. In addition, he considers himself to be Jenni’s manager, as well as her greatest supporter who attends most rehearsals. He is often called upon to “read in” when cast members are absent, and he was actually on stage in Nana Does Vegas, as a high-roller at the Casino!
Finally, Jenni had been asked to direct The Sweet Delilah Swim Club for Lemon Bay Playhouse, due to open on 14th January. Rehearsals had to begin early because of several holidays interceding – Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year, when cast members would need time off. As we write this blog post, we are just entering Tech Week, where we put the play together with lighting, sound effects, etc.
So, as you can see , our year has been exceedingly busy with Dramas and only a couple of Destinations.
Once again, we wish you a really fabulous 2026 full of everything you wish for yourselves.
