Jordan Rivers - The Natural Grouch Face

From My Rejecter to My Idol

Mr. Derek Scott

When I was asked to choose a person who was significant to me, I was at first conflicted. There were multiple people that came to mind. I could have chosen my employer or one of my favorite teachers from high school. But after I thought about it for a second, there was only one man who had influenced me enough to warrant writing a blog about them.

No person has influenced me more than Mr. Derek Scott, an African American man with a thunderous voice. With stubble on his face, and a black Kangol hat on top of his almost bare head, he looks to be a little over middle aged. He not only has the accent of a Philadelphian, but the personality and heart as well. His fatigued eyes carry multiple bags underneath them. He looks to be an intimidating figure, to say the least, but in actuality, he is one of the most compassionate and genuine people I have ever met.  

One of the things I most admire about Derek is his kindess, and his ability to make anyone feel like they are welcome and wanted. He is the perfect blend of charisma and outgoingness, with a clever and sardonic sense of humor as well. I remember in particular, when I received a text from Derek noting, "You are welcome here man. You have a home with us." 

I remember one night in particular rehearsing, and having someone walk behind me and greet me. I turned around to see Mr. Derek Scott standing there with a gleaming smile.

He approached me and mentioned, "Hey kid, you're doing really great!" He also added that I had great acting chemistry with my co-star. 

I was shocked to hear that, since at the time, I was doubting my ability as an actor. I truly felt that I was only cast because they had no other alternatives, and that put me into a spiral of depression and sadness. This was not the last time that Derek came up to me, and told me that I was doing well and supporting me. Each time that he told me these things, it truly made me feel good about myself, and he helped to

 plunge me out of that spiral I was in.

Poster for Twelve 
Angry Men

One of my fondest memories of Derek was our first meeting at auditions for a play called 12 Angry Men. I opened my car door, and stepped into a chilly winter’s day. The wind whipped fiercely, and I felt like I was almost being swept across the parking lot. I saw hordes of people gathered around all
clamped together like sardines and shivering. The doors opened, and everyone stepped into a quaint auditorium with a massive stage in it. I took a seat in the back of the room when in walked, Mr. Derek Scott.

He called out, "Welcome to auditions for 12 Angry Men, if you could wait just a minute, I will be right with you."

He then stuck out a finger at me, and an older white-haired gentleman next to me. He told us that we would be auditioning first, and I sunk into my chair knowing what was to come. I stepped onto stage and looked at Derek.

 
He stated, "Good Evening, my name is Derek Scott, and I am the director of this show." He looked at me inquisitively, and asked, "What is your name?"

I replied in a gentle but dreadful tone, "Ian, it's a pleasure to meet you sir."

He responded, "Please call me Derek, and I would like you to audition with juror 8 and juror 10."

I got up on stage, and I gave it my all. I bellowed my lines, and I used every square inch of that stage. I felt like I came alive, and I transformed myself into these characters.

After both monologues, the other actors gave me a booming round of applause, and Derek looked at me, and commented, "Wow, kid, that was great! That was really fantastic, great job!"

Derek acting at Shakesperience 2019     

I grinned, and replied, "Thank you," and walked back to my seat with a new sense of pride.

Later, I recognized these were two of the main characters of the show, and I felt a feeling of warmth about this man. He looked to be menacing and fearsome but in reality, he was an empathetic and altruistic man who saw potential in me.

At the end of auditions, Derek came to me and remarked, " I was greatly impressed by your audition, and just in case, you don't get cast, I have another theatre company that does Shakespeare in the Park, and I would love for you to audition for that as well."

I replied, "Oh wow, I would love to, thank you so much!"

Later that month, I received an email from Derek mentioning that they had to go with an older cast, but to continue to try out for shows, in particular, the Shakespeare in the Park show. I was devastated but listened to his advice and luckily, this audition was only a small part of my journey with Derek Scott.

The COVID-19 pandemic hit the country, and the Shakespeare in the Park show was cancelled that summer. Auditions came around for next year’s Shakespeare show, and I auditioned, thinking Derek would be the director. I arrived at those auditions to discover that Derek was not directing nor having any part in the show. I was bummed because I felt like I was finally going to be able to get to know him better, and show him that I had improved. Then, Derek joined the play in the last couple weeks before show night, and that is when I finally felt like I got to know him, like really got to know him.

Derek co-founded Gaspipe
Theatre Company

   

One of the things I discovered is that Derek had co-founded Gaspipe Theatre Company (https://gaspipetheatrecompany.webs.com/) with his now ex-wife. I also was mesmerized by stories of old theatre productions including many of the Midsummer shows, and the production of Othello that Derek starred in.  

Derek asked me to be in two more plays he was directing, and it finally made me feel like I had a family and a home, which is something that I did not feel like I had before. One of the roles he asked me to audition for was the epoynomous title role in a musical. He also asked me to come out for auditions for the new cast of 12 Angry Men.

Getting the chance to act under Derek's direction gives me a feeling of joy unlike any feeling I have ever felt before. Today, I now feel like a protégé of Derek, and I know I will always look up to him. He is one of the first people to ever see potential in me, and see me for who I am, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

The cast of The Tempest (the Shakespeare show I referred to;)

Derek is the fourth from the right