By Bobbie Kidder

Hands Across the Ocean is in the midst of its exchange. Our American troupe left Grants Pass in mid-August:
Samae Horner, a 20-year-old dancer from Ashland; Loraine Sherman, a 76-year-old actor from Williams;
and me, a 40 something actor-traveler from Grants Pass. My dream for this project has been an
international/intergenerational troupe--and with only three people, we were intergenerational. I took it as a sign.

We went to Petersburg first, then to Moscow and on to Barnaul and Rubtsovsk. The three of us discovered that
there is magic in mixing generations. We were all willing to learn from each other's perspectives and more than
willing to share laughter. When Ron Brown joined us in Moscow we decided that with his enthusiasm and spirit
of adventure he was a natural for show biz. We signed him up as a member of the troupe on the spot. He does
a great reading of "Casey at the Bat."

The Rubtsovsk actors prepared an incredible production of the Shukshin play, "The Cock Crows." Our "joint venture"
performance began with the American troupe's contribution, followed by the Russians and Americans on stage
together. After intermission came the Shukshin play. We performed in two Rubtsovsk concert settings, in factories,
at a retirement home, and in two Siberian villages. I wish you could see the entire Russian troupe of 14, but you
will meet five of them when they arrive in the U.S. on September 26.

Our public performances will be at 8 o'clock PM., October 8 and 9, in the Rogue Building at RCC. Admission is free.
There will be Russian crafts on sale to give folks the opportunity to do some early Christmas shopping.

Hands Across the Ocean's mission is to honor the uniqueness of each other's cultures while we celebrate our
common ground. I'm grateful that we are realizing that mission, and I hope you join our celebration.

HOME

History     Member Application     Sister Cities International     Postcards     Exchange Highlights

Heart-to Heart Project     Grants Pass Chamber of Commerce     Photo Album     Winterfest

1997: A Visit to Rubtsovsk     Official Exchange May 1993     Maps
   Changing Lives  

Student Exchange 2003     City of Grants Pass        Grants Pass Sister City Bear (Art Project)

Contact Information   Recipes    Sister City Board & Advisory Board Members