Springfield Center just had its 95th Fourth of July parade. Among the plethora of firetrucks and children was our “Field of Dreams” float. Adorned with costumed interns and staff, cornstalks transformed an old truck bed into a traveling stage.

While watching the parade, I learned a few things…

1. Candy can be deadly.

Yes, candy can kill, or at least pelt you in the face and hurt — a lot. Most of the parade entries gently tossed candy from inside a car or off their float. A few other entries threw candy off the top of their 10-foot trucks.  Maybe they were practicing for a baseball game; we’ll never know.

Children will also fight for their candy. I went for a piece of my favorite candy, Tootsie Rolls, and had a child take it from me. I had to alter my defensive driving  to defensive candy scavenging and retired my new skills after only six pieces. I guess I’m not cut out for parade participation afterall.

 

2. Everyone can love a good ‘ole parade.

Among the Springfield Center, Cooperstown and other surrounding area residents, was La Traviata Director Jonathan Miller and Scenic & Costume Designer Isabella Bywater, with other opera staff members, artists and interns in the crowd. Although English natives, Jonathan and Isabella had patriotic spirit on America’s birthday. They claimed their spot on the porch of the building below (look for them waving.)

 

3. Glimmerglass Opera’s safety standards should be applied to everything.

Although firetrucks look cool, they’re really loud. I think each parade spectator should be given a set of ear plugs when they arrive. This way when the horns, sirens and cannons are blown, we don’t temporarily lose our hearing. Maybe instead of a float next year, Glimmerglass donates ear plugs to the 1,400 spectators!

 

4. Costumes aren’t just for singers anymore.

Interns and seasonal staff from production and administration put on a collection of eclectic costumes from previous Glimmerglass Opera productions, such as Kiss Me, Kate. Scenic Design Intern Ada Smith (in the black and white stripes) designed our float. Our float “cast members” entertained the crowd, with their stylistic waving, dancing and candy throwing. Who said technicians couldn’t act?

 

Thanks to the immense amount of work, love and cheers that went into the float, we received second place in the parade!

One Thought on “Four Things I Learned from the Fourth of July Parade”

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  1. Great photos! I especially loved the last one. I came to Glimmerglass with my class a month ago for a showing of La Traviata and I was enchanted by the venue and the people that worked in it. Looks like you’re all having a great time and it shows in the productions 🙂

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