Georgina Smith has been a vital part of the lifeblood of Original Kids since 1994 when her daughter Heidi started out in my production of Cats of Alma, and Georgina began as an OK parent volunteer.. It has been my cherished privilege to work closely with her for all those years, and to be her friend. Georgina is one of a kind, no question of that, and a place with the word “original” in its name has been the perfect place for this unique and memorable woman. She has brought delight and sunshine to us, and is a shining example of  strength of opinion and principle (with the tenacity of a terrier!), and of the highest ethical and moral standards. She has made a difference in the lives of generations of our Kids and of our families.
This season has been a tough one for Georgina, with the development of serious back pain. She returned from recuperation time with high hopes for recovered wellness, but the pain has returned. She told me last winter that she had to let her body tell her whether she could continue in her job or not.
Well, now her body has spoken.
 Below is the letter that she recently gave to Dale and the heart-stopping valedictory speech she gave at our June 6 Grad Gala.
Although she will no longer be at her usual OK post in our office, Georgina has developed as an extremely talented and inspirational director over the years. It is my hope that you will see here back with us, directing your children in some of the emotional and meaningful plays that are her specialty.
She refers to resigning. I just think of her as GRADUATED. And, as we tell all of our Grads, “Once an Original Kid, Always an Original Kid!”
Art Fidler

Now, over to Georgina:

This was just a small part of a wonderful evening at Original Kids Theatre Company’s Grad Gala which was held at the Wolf Performance Hall filled with over 360 Original Kids, Staff and Families in attendance. The news I shared would have been unexpected.

On Friday I gave Dale an important letter to read and he asked me to share it with all of you this evening.

Dear Dale,
        
It’s been lovely being back at OKTC these last few months. I love all our people and it’s been wonderful to be among them again. I’m proud of how our company has developed. It’s come a tremendously long way since I first walked through the door in The Fall 1994. We have a super staff and I’m so proud to be counted among them.
        
Dale, under your strong leadership, you have continued to develop the company and I appreciate how you have provided opportunity to our graduates to return to work as summer staff, main cast artistic staff and to perform in alumni shows. You give them a reason to come back which is so good for our continuity. Even through Simply Theatre, you provide opportunity for roles for them. Also, through your own theatre company, you stay well tied into the outer artistic community who we are then able to employ as artistic staff and it’s no doubt through shows like Saucy Jack and Rocky Horror Picture Show you increase the ‘cool factor’ associated with our company which I think is very important.
        
I feel OKTC is in such good hands. Art’s guidance and support have strengthened our company throughout the years.  In his inspiring way, he holds up a mirror making sure we all take the time to celebrate and take great pride in our specialness.  Leigh has kept a steady hand bringing our company much needed financial stability.  Jeff is forever taking on new challenges and succeeding in them. Micah has brought talent and fresh energy to our tech department. It’s in his blood. Ellen seems to have wrangled our book keeping down to the ground and at the same time brings such a loving and enthusiastic spirit.  Kerry was an absolute find! She is a lovely person with great instincts and her educational background in theatre will serve our company well. Of course we’re all so fortunate to have Joe and Gocia, two beautiful people who work hard to give us that well-cared-for look.  Our OKTC parents and volunteers and board members who give so selflessly of themselves have been a joy to work with and I could not be more proud of our Kids if they were born to me!! I love them all!!!!!!!!!

It seems strange to sum up the contribution of these folks in a sentence or two when their impact has been so multilayered and intricate.  Yet at this time I want them all to know how special to me each one of them is because after 17 years, my time with Original Kids is coming to an end. As much as I would like to be here for all the future adventures, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
        
As you know it was my original plan to be back to full time hours long before now. Unfortunately with each passing week my neck has been getting worse.  Those familiar sensations are returning and since this all started as a repetitive strain injury, even with physio, my body is protesting and telling me that it makes no sense to return to the job that put me in this position to begin with.
        
I feel no trepidation as I head into the land of the retired because when I had a taste of it during those 5 months this past winter my husband Andy and I both enjoyed it. Our plan was that I would work until age 62 so this is 3 years earlier but we feel now the time is right and we are looking forward to the impact it will have on our lives and the lives of our family and friends. 
        
So herein lies my letter of resignation.  If it suits you, I picture my last day being Thursday, June 16.  I wish each of you and our company all good things in the future and will forever feel proud to have played a role in the success of Original Kids Theatre Company.

                                                      With Much Love and Respect to All,

Life is funny isn’t it? I never imagined myself standing here – saying this. Not now! What do they say? ‘Life is what happens to you when you’re making other plans.’  But you know? One of the most important things I learned here at Original Kids Theatre is that . . . “Change is good.”  Yes, over these past years, when I’ve ever found myself wondering if a certain change would work out well, it almost always did!!!  So I’ve definitely learned to trust change. Change is good! In fact it can be downright exciting!!

Our grads know this as they eagerly look forward to what lies ahead!! Grads . . . sometimes things can happen so slowly, you almost don’t see them happening but being here at Original Kids has changed each and every one of you.  I ran into the parents of one of our alumni who will be graduating this Christmas from the Marketing co-op program at the University of Toronto. He had an enormously successful co-op at Research in Motion (the Blackberry maker) and his chances of working there after he graduates are looking excellent. His mom told me that she believes with all her heart that his success was in large part due to his years as an Original Kid.  She said, “You won’t believe the kind of top notch business presentations those Original Kids can give.”  This story didn’t surprise me.  I have heard many versions of this same wonderful story. The confidence and work ethic alone that grow out of your experience at Original Kids is going to give you a lifetime advantage. Grads, you will forever have that proverbial ace up your sleeve! Because it’s not just what you did it’s how you did it!! With strong focus, high energy and caring hearts that lifted up others along the way. You understood that the journey along the way was every bit as important as the destination.  And that is everything out there in this wide world of ours!  You are Original Kids and that means something! Now, please, I want you to all be sure to stay in touch with us!! We love you and you will always be very special to us!

To the many others who will stay at Original Kids and carry the torch . . . I get excited just thinking of your future here – shows yet to perform in, staff yet to be inspired by, friends yet to make and skills and attitudes yet to gain. Some of you will even join various parts of the staff. And just think, one day you may be standing on this stage at your own graduation like all this year’s Grads and me too attempting to use mere words to sum up what your experience will have meant to you.

For my own guidance, I look back 17 years ago on the first day I connected with Original Kids Theatre when my daughter was just about to join.  Heidi and I wondered what it was like to be an Original Kid.  Art Fidler suggested, “Go over there and talk to those 3 girls. They’ll tell you.”  When we asked them, “What’s it like being in Original Kids?” I will never ever forget how they responded to the question.  It may sound strange when you hear what they said . . .  but to me -  they spoke volumes . . .

“It’s really so . . .”
“Well it’s like . . . I mean . . .”
“It, it makes you feel . . .”

At that moment, those bright and superbly talented girls could not put a sentence together! It was as though they were completely overwhelmed at the thought of summing up their impression in a few words – in effect they were speechless.  I’m guessing lots of you can relate.  I can too.  So before I get tongue-tied, please, Everyone, know what joy, excitement and gratification you have brought into my life in a multitude of ways. I will forever be grateful to you!!!!!!
Georgina Smith

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