The Fonda Blog

PCA’s ‘The Miracle Worker’ communicates Helen Keller’s amazing story

By Scott Orr, The Daily Courier – 10/11/2011

PRESCOTT – To see “The Miracle Worker” performed live at the Prescott Center for the Performing Arts is to simultaneously suspend disbelief and realize what an effort it is to stage this very physical play effectively.

And it is effective. For anyone who has never seen the film or the play, “The Miracle Worker” tells the true story of Helen Keller, a young deaf and blind girl, and her teacher, Annie Sullivan. The story is set in the period immediately following the Civil War, when such children were sometimes believed to be uncontrollable and placed in asylums.

Annie (Joanne Robertson, right) and Helen (Carly Fonda, left) have a breakthrough in communication with the help of a doll.

Helen, played by 10-year-old Carly Fonda, is indeed uncontrollable as the play opens. Fonda, acting in a role that has no dialogue, yet sees her on stage for nearly all of the show’s two hours, gives a nuanced performance.  “I have learned that you can (convey) words through your facial expressions,” she said.

The role requires violent behavior: Helen slaps, kicks and bites people, throws silverware, breaks dishes, and wreaks all manner of other destruction whenever she fails to get her way.  Annie (Joanne Robertson) gives as good as she gets, although Robertson said playing the part required a little extra help.  “It’s very physical,” she said. “I’m wearing kneepads and I have bruises all over.”

Supporting actor Justus Burkitt as Helen’s half-brother, James, steals nearly every scene he’s in, cracking pointed jokes and delivering sarcastic comments to Annie and his father, Captain Keller (Kevin Nissen). He acts as the comic relief in an otherwise very intense show, but his appearances never seem forced or extraneous.

Helen (Carly Fonda) acts up at the breakfast table while Annie (Joanne Robertson) assesses the situation in the Prescott Center for the Arts' production of "The Miracle Worker." Callaghan Howard, Kevin Nissen, Karla Burkitt, Lois Fazio and Justus Burkitt co-star.

The show is directed by Catherine Miller Hahn; this is her 60th production. She said it was not easy to stage.  “This one is very difficult. There’s lots of pieces to it, lots of scenes, lots of places,” she said. Because of the nature of the theatre (it is a converted church), plays like this one, with multiple sets, require some unusual techniques and staging.  “In our theater, we don’t have flies (cables to a tall ceiling) to take things up or down, so you have to figure out a way to move and weave it all,” Hahn said.

The set design takes advantage of the open space above the stage, allowing the upstairs spare bedroom in which Annie writes her diary entries to literally be upstairs, above the rest of the house. As usual for this theater, there are unavoidable viewblocks presented by the structural pillars of the church which stand at the front of the stage. It is surprising how frequently these relatively small obstructions block parts of the action at times.

If you know the story or have seen the film, you know how it ends. This production also includes a touching “extra” after the end of the play itself.

written by admin \\ tags: Achievements, Arts, SouthWest

Pebble Beach war pilot recalls surviving missions

By DENNIS TAYLOR, Herald Staff Writer, Posted: 09/05/2011

After flying his 50th bombing mission over Europe, Bill Fonda of the United States Army Air Force was rotated back to the U.S. to a base in Greenville, S.C. On the day he got those orders, he briefly considered asking for a transfer to a fighter plane squadron.

“I had always wanted to fly fighters, and if I had asked, they might have given me the transfer,” says Fonda, now 91 and living in Pebble Beach. “But I didn’t ask, and they didn’t offer, so I came home.

“I’ve always wondered how my life might have turned out if I had pursued that option,” Fonda muses. “I might not have married the woman I married, might not have had the children and grandchildren I have. My whole life might have been very different — assuming I had survived.”

His survival, he believes, is the reason he was awarded the Silver Star, for “gallantry in action against the enemy,” along with nine other military medals, for his service in the European Theater during World War II.

“It’s not always true — there are exceptions — but my feeling about medals is that you get them for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and managing to survive,” he says.

Read the complete story in The Herald’s print or e-edition of Sept. 4
(If anyone has the text of the full article, or a photo, please forward to webmaster@fonda.org)

written by admin \\ tags: Achievements, West Coast, World War II

Student finds his soundtrack to success

The past few weeks of Grant Fonda’s life would not make for a very stirring motion picture.

Although Fonda participated in an international contest that tested his skill and resolve, there was no final scene of victory, only quiet affirmations. No triumphant hoisting of a trophy over his weary head, only subtler moments to be cherished and worthwhile lessons to be tucked away for a future date.

University of Missouri graduate student Grant Fonda recently traveled to Poland to compete in the Transatlantyk Instant Composition Contest.

The graduate student at the University of Missouri School of Music traveled to Poland earlier this month to compete in the Transatlantyk Instant Composition Contest, a compositional pressure cooker that tested his ability to write emotive music for motion pictures. Although Fonda did not achieve a level of glory worthy of having his own tale captured on celluloid, he came home with a better understanding of what it means to be part of the film industry.

Fonda applied to the competition — founded by Oscar-winning composer Jan Kaczmarek (“Finding Neverland”) — almost as an afterthought, engaging the process between finishing a commission and heading to his native California for vacation. In addition to submitting previously composed works, he was required to score two short film clips that were distinct but equally daunting. The first, a climactic scene from the 2009 film “Get Low,” included a stirring soliloquy from Oscar winner Robert Duvall; it was an “intense” and “delicate” moment with dialogue that needed to be preserved, not drowned out, he said. The second was from a “bizarre” French cartoon in which a young girl, among other things, falls into a bowl of alphabet soup and is attacked by zombies.

For the Duvall clip, he evoked themes of mystery and absolution through the use of unresolved dissonances, inverted chords and pedal tones; Fonda balanced “menacing” and “childlike” themes for the latter. For his work, he was selected as one of 30 participants, which meant trekking to Poland, watching a short film, and composing and performing an accompaniment before a panel of American and Polish judges on the spot.

Fonda was shown a five-plus-minute piece called “Walking,” produced by a Canadian travel commission decades ago; the work was bizarre and psychedelic, with no discernible plot or dialogue, he said. Immediately upon leaving the screening room, he sat at the piano and performed his level best. His strategy: attach a winning theme to the film’s central character and balance out its more extreme elements with a relatively accessible, melodic score. Ultimately, Fonda did not take his place among the 10 finalists. He received praise from the American panelists but was told the European judges wished he’d taken more risks; other contestants incorporated elements of prepared piano or relied on a more serial, clustered set of tones.

Although Fonda did not advance in the competition, his compositional sensibilities were advanced by encouraging, “invaluable” interactions with the likes of composers Christopher Young (“Spider-Man 3,” “The Grudge”), George S. Clinton (the “Austin Powers” films), Bruno Louchouarn (“Total Recall”) and producer Roy Conli (“Tangled,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”); these professionals offered lessons on life and art in master classes and specific feedback in personal conversations.

Among the comments Fonda received were praiseworthy pronouncements on his ability to convey mood and character and his capacity to musically captain viewers through a spectrum of emotions in a short period of time. Clinton remarked on his remarkable capacity for suggesting and creating color through orchestration. Additionally, he was told he had a fitting temperament for composition and was encouraged to stand up for his abilities, even while avoiding walking on others in collaboration. Ultimately, he was deeply encouraged by Young’s comments on the relationship between a composer’s maturity and the potency of his or her music.

“He said, ‘You’re not going to be able to evoke the right emotion for a romantic scene if you’ve never been married,’ ” Fonda recalled. “ ‘You’re not going to be able to evoke the right emotion for a funeral if you’ve never witnessed somebody close to you die.’ He said there’s just a certain advantage that being older in the industry has than being younger. … All this time I had been thinking,” as someone who’s closer to 30 than 20, “I’d missed my stride.”

Fonda said he’s likely to reapply next year — this year’s contest might not have provided a feel-good movie ending, but, as he exercises his talent and applies messages received an ocean away, there’s little doubt a sequel is in the works.

Reach Aarik Danielsen at 573-815-1731 or e-mail ajdanielsen@columbiatribune.com.
Copyright 2011 Columbia Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
This article was published on page C2 of the Sunday, August 28, 2011 edition of The Columbia Daily Tribune.

written by admin \\ tags: Achievements, Arts, Midwest

Hank Fonde halfback at Univ. of Michigan (1944-1948) (Photo credit: Joel Thurtell)

Former U-M Football Player/Coach Henry Fonde Dies

Published: Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Former University of Michigan football player and coach Henry Fonde, who also coached the Ann Arbor High School football team for 10 years, died at the age of 85 early Sunday morning of complications brought on by Alzheimer’s disease.  A visitation for Fonde will be held on Thursday from 4-9 p.m. at the Vermeulen Funeral Home, located at 46401 W Ann Arbor Road in Plymouth, followed by a funeral service at First Presbyterian Church in Northville at 11 a.m. Friday.
A native of Knoxville, Tenn., Fonde came to the University of Michigan in 1944 as part of the Navy’s V-12 program and studied engineering while contributing to the strong Wolverines football teams of the mid-to-late ’40s.  Known to many as Hank, Fonde’s highlights as a player included scoring the lone touchdown in Michigan’s 7-3 victory over Ohio State in 1945 and tossing a 45-yard touchdown pass in the 49-0 win over Southern California in the 1948 Rose Bowl.
Fonde compiled a 69-6-4 record (with four of his losses coming in his final season) coaching the Pioneers from 1949-1958, after which he joined Bump Elliott’s staff at Michigan.

Hank Fonde Team Photo

“It still amazes me how many people know the name ‘Fonde’ and it’s because of him,” Fonde’s son, Chuck said. “He made such a mark in this community, both through Ann Arbor High School and the University of Michigan. A lot of people knew him, a lot of people loved him.”  Fonde remained on the staff at Michigan through the 1968 season and became an academic advisor for the football team when Bo Schembechler replaced Elliott in 1969.
“I just remember him being one of the nicest gentleman I’ve ever met in my life,” said longtime Michigan assistant Jerry Hanlon, who arrived on campus with Bo in 1969. “He was that kind of a person. He had everybody’s best interest at heart. The players loved him, and when he decided to leave Michigan as academic advisor, I thought it was a big loss.”
Seth Gordon can be reached at sgordon@annarbornews.com or 734-994-6108.

Hank Fonde (Photo credit: Joel Thurtell)

Henry Fonde’s record in the Fonda family tree is here.  He has a Wikipedia entry here.

The following obituary was excerpted from the Ann Arbor News on MLive.com on 5/5/2009:
“Hank Fonde passed away May 3rd 2009 at the age of 85 years. He was a graduate of U of M School of Engineering and Masters in Education. Head football coach at Ann Arbor High School & Assistant football coach at U of M. Owner and operator of the Stretch & Sew Fabric Store in Farmington Hills for many years. He is survived by his children: our class of ’67 member, Karen (Joel Thurtell) Fonde, Chuck (Linda) Fonde, Mark (Stacey) Fonde, Julia (Max) Davis and Anne (Bill) Potter, his grandchidren: Adam, Abe, Ben, Megan, Rachel, Hayley, Beck, Chelsea, Danielle, Regin and William. He was predeceased by his wife Edith (nee Jordan) and grandchild Aaron. Visitation was Thursday May 7th  at Vermeulen Funeral Home, 46401 W Ann Arbor Road (btwn Sheldon & Beck) Plymouth. The Funeral was Friday May 8th at First Presbyterian Church, 200 E. Main, Northville. Memorial contributions may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation or the Alzheimer’s Association . To leave a message of condolence, log on to www.vermeulenfuneralhome.com”

Another good story about Hank Fonde, written by his son-in-law, Joel Thurtell – “I beat Ohio State!”

Andrew Fonde’s record in the Fonda family tree is here.  A cemetery memorial for him is here.
His details: 16-Feb-1798 – Supreme Court of Philadelphia, Oath of Allegiance; 1800 US Federal Census, Southwark, Philadelphia, PA (Andw Funday, household of 6); 1810 US Federal Census, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., PA (Andrew Fundy, o. Porter, household of 11); 1820 & 1830 US Federal Census, New Orleans, New Orleans Parish, LA; 1822 New Orleans, LA City Directory (Rev. Andre Fonde, Accountant, at 116 St. Philip cor. Perdido); d. New Orleans, LA (Cholera); bur. Girod St. Cemetery, New Orleans, LA

Excerpt from “Ancestors of Charles Henry Fonde” website
“It is believed by the family that Andre Fonde came to America from France, but that the family originally came from the Lombardy area of Italy, and that Fonde was originally spelled Fondi. There is a town in Italy called Fondi, located on the west coast about halfway between Rome and Naples. David Fonde quotes the Chambers Encyclopedia, published in England, as describing Fondi this way: “A small town in Italy on the Appian Way between Rome and Naples, located near a pestiferous swamp and noted during the Middle Ages for its brigands and horse thieves.” The family story is that during some political disturbance it became necessary for an early Fondi to escape from his own country if he could. This may have been when Napoleon overcame Venice and gave Northern Italy into Austrian (German) control. There is a poem written in Italian among the Fonde papers which lends some credence to this theory.”
“According to a letter written by his great-granddaughter Elizabeth Fonde, Andre relocated in France, where he served as a scrivener, writing documents beautifully in more than one language. Later (between 1790 and 1794) he removed to America, probably to Philiadelphia, where records of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania document that he either made a Declaration of Intention (to become a citizen) or an Oath of Allegiance on February 16, 1798. (Philadelphia Naturalization Records, edited by Wm. Filby, Gale Research Co., Detroit, MI, 1982, page 197). His nationality is given as French.”
“We have copies of letters that Andre Fonde wrote, one from New Orleans to his wife in Philadelphia, and another (1818) from Philadelphia to his son, John P. Fonde, who had recently moved to Washington, D.C. It is believed that Andre and Sarah Fonde moved to New Orleans before 1830 and that they are buried there. Although their marriage in 1794 and the baptisms and burials of several Fonde/Fondy children are recorded at Christ Church (Episcopal), Philadelphia, not all their known children are in these records. (Henry and John Philip are not recorded, nor is the birth of two Fondy children who were buried at Christ Church — Calipso in 1803 and Andrew in 1801). I have made some estimates about the birth order of these children and their dates of birth.”

written by admin \\ tags: Achievements, Fonde, Michigan, Sports

Possibility In Objects

Gioia Fonda transforms gutter garbage into art

Ordinary hurricane fence morphs into happy orange flowers, familiar green baskets that once held strawberries transform into whimsical city skylines and forks found abandoned in Sacramento’s gutters glisten brightly. These are Sacramento City College assistant art professor Gioia Fonda’s recycled treasures. And her art. “I feel that people aren’t being as creative as they could be with their trash,” Fonda says. “There are possibilities in objects. A lot of things could be repurposed.”

Sacramento City College professor Gioia Fonda snuggles to one of her quilts, some of which are made with repurposed plastic bags.

Fonda’s den of creativity once filled a large space in Verge Gallery and Studio Project at 19th and V streets, but now is awaiting construction of walls before its move into a new location downtown near S and Seventh streets. Her studio brims with random objects found during her daily bicycle commute. While seated at her workstation, Fonda appears wholly comfortable surrounded by a world of recycled bliss.

On the ground, a white ceramic owl anticipates a fresh coat of paint. Boxes labeled “froo-froo fluff” and “Valentine crap” rest neatly on shelves. Hand-painted sheets of construction paper wadded into balls, then pierced with string, hang over a doorway. There’s more: A patch of cotton-candy-pink fur is pinned to one wall. A tin caboodle chock-full of gel pens beckons even the most artistically challenged. A small table bears an assortment of dull and bent silverware. A tiny pile of snipped paper bits lay interwoven on her desk.

Scanning the entire room, Fonda jumps up and grabs an object she proudly presents as a “weed tiara.” “Everything looks better with spray paint,” Fonda says, matter of factly, while holding what appears to be a chunk of flattened tumbleweed. “One day, I just decided to spray-paint it pink and then, another day, I decided to glue a little sequin on the tip of every [branch].”

A simple weed, flattened by numerous cars and blown into the gutter in front of her art studio, now sparkles with new purpose. “When things are cheap, I’m more likely to take a risk and try something new than if I spend a lot of money on art supplies,” explains the blond 36-year-old of her attraction to found art and collage. She says that her family always looked at things “a little differently.” “For me, it’s second nature.”

She points out a deity sitting on a shelf lined with orange lace, safely surrounded by an old picture frame, silently surveying the studio. An artificial-grass fan is attached to the deity’s back, forming a green aura, while an old ink pen and pair of scissors stand guard at its sides. Multicolored paint chips, scraped from Fonda’s palette, lay as an offering at the deity’s feet.

“[My mom] thought it would be funny to give me this little goddess, my ‘studio goddess,’” Fonda says, smiling. Her mother, Chloe Fonda, is also an artist. “Most of the paintbrushes I have were hers when she was in school. She kept good care of them, and I take OK care of them, and they are still usable 50 years later. “I think there’s a sense that you should use things and take care of them for as long as you can.”

Students in Fonda’s collage-and-assemblage classes quickly learn this lesson, too, and items such as an ordinary gum wrapper, lying in a crumpled-up ball on the ground, becomes their art. Fonda’s intention is to show students that they can save money by visiting thrift stores or by simply taking a second look at, say, the plastic bag bread comes in. “My motivation isn’t always saving the Earth, although that’d be nice,” Fonda admits. “[But] everything could be useful somehow. It could be turned into something.”

Fonda’s passion for recycled collage and assemblage has produced notable projects. “Gioia is one resourceful woman,” says Sacramento City College’s art department chairwoman Emily Wilson. “A piece that comes to mind is a quilt she made entirely out of used plastic shopping bags. She created a piece of artwork with intricate pattern and vivid color made entirely out of what most of us would consider trash.”

Fonda started collecting plastic bags from different bodegas around Brooklyn during her studies at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. She saved them by making a book of plastic pages. Two years later, they reappeared as the quilt. “When I use plastic bags, I can kind of experiment, and it’s freeing to me,” Fonda says while unfolding her plastic masterpiece, which rustles softly. Certain squares of the quilt are very familiar: the swirly “S” of Safeway, red Target circles, even the intense yellow of a Sacramento City College bookstore bag. “I was just thinking I had so many plastic bags, and they were such beautiful colors … what could come of it?”

Fonda says that her fear of driving is the reason she commutes by bike, but that pedaling through Sacramento puts her at the street level, which makes it easier to find objects for future art projects. “I used to go on walks with a friend [and] her dog, and she would be laughing at me for how many times I bent down to pick things up,” Fonda says. “My pockets would be full by the end of the walk.”

Fonda, who has also participated in state fair competitions for recycled art, feels everyone is capable of repurposing an object, but everyone should also push the aesthetic potential a little more. “If somebody wants to start out, just look around,” she advises, thinking. “Like all those AOL discs that come in the mail all the time. We gotta think of a project for those!”

written by admin \\ tags: Achievements, Nature, Schools, West Coast