Sunny Meyer shares memories of Vero Beach Theatre Guild
There’s something old and something new this week.
After my call for comments for memories of Vero Beach Theatre Guild in its first year, 1958, I was contacted by an 86-year-old dynamo, Sunny Meyer. Note: The “something old” is Vero Beach Theatre Guild, celebrating 60 years in 2018, not Meyer.
Sunny went by her given name, Lois, back then, when she starred in "John Loves Mary," the kind of comedy that’s still a favorite with audiences and actors at the Theatre Guild. That first season also saw her directing John Patrick’s "Lo and Behold." Meyer remembers playing the title role of the Grand Duchess in "Anastasia" but can’t recall if it was in the first or second season.
In the two years Meyer was active in the Theatre Guild before moving to West Palm Beach for her husband’s new job, she started a children’s theater. John was the mission developer who brought Our Savior Lutheran Church to Vero Beach before being assigned farther south.
The Meyers have been back in their Summerplace neighborhood full time for two years but Sunny says she has retired from the stage. At least for the present. The current, very funny show at the Theatre Guild, "Lend Me a Tenor," would be right up her alley. It runs through this weekend, ending Sunday (www.verobeachtheatreguild.com).
New writing center
Something new is the “very first writing center in Vero Beach,” according to Laura Riding Jackson Foundation’s Susan McDaniel. The official ribbon-cutting grand opening is next month but the first fundraising adult writing workshop is this weekend.
Local author, illustrator and entrepreneur Leslie McGuirk will lead “The Importance of Being Wrong: How to Develop a Creative Mind” 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday at the new foundation office, 1914 14th Ave.
McGuirk, who recently moved to Hobe Sound from Vero Beach, has conducted two Teen Writers Workshops, and with this one, is responding to requests from many Vero adult residents. She has been teaching a Quest for Inspiration workshop at five-star spas around the world for 20 years and now is bringing it home.
“It is all about rewiring the brain so that original thoughts can show up … and it is never too late for the brain to be stretched,” McGuirk said.
One of her own stretching exercises was a TED Talk presentation.
“It was terrifying," she said ."You have to walk onto a stage in front of 600 people and convince them in under ten minutes that you have an original idea worth sharing.”
McGuirk said she thinks the standing ovation she received for her talk at UCLA meant “I must have done OK.” McGuirk offered this link for readers who would like to hear the talk. To check on space availability at the workshop, call 772-569-6718 or go to www.lauraridingjackson.com.
Other events this weekend
Local musicians Matt Stott and Marcos Flores are in concert at Christ by the Sea United Methodist Church at 3 p.m. Sunday (www.cbtsumc.org).
Con Brio string quartet is at First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach at 4 p.m. Sunday (www.firstpresvero.org).
It’s Art by the Sea weekend through Sunday at Vero Beach Museum of Art. (www.verobeachartclub.org).
Willi Miller writes about Indian River County. Contact her at caribsea@bellsouth.net.