Blessing Blackburn Musical ~ Installment 6

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“Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 7:11)

Leslie pastes herself into the guest blogging for a moment: I’m selecting the Scripture verses for Marie’s posts. She would not purposely choose complimentary words for herself – but I can!

Guest Blogger ~ Marie Sheahan Brown

Wednesday, 3/28/12
4:30 pm in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Respond to God’s unexpected invitations.

Bonnie Campbell and I are sitting in the waiting room of BBC Newcastle awaiting our live drive-time interview with Jon Harles, a popular radio program host.

This is the day after opening night of The Susan Boyle Musical, I Dreamed A Dream, which is receiving widespread favorable reviews from media as distant as the Los Angeles Times.

The musical, itself – given its subject and its prominent cast and creative team – sparks media and public interest on its own. But we 100 supporters with our diverse accents enhance the story. The newshounds want to know why we came here from 15 countries, including Australia, and 20 of the United States of America. Many print, television, and radio reporters have stopped us in the streets or in the Theatre Royal foyer or restaurants, brandishing mics, cameras, and classic little paper pads for capturing shorthand notes.

Our group has no official spokesperson for these events, so any of us may consent to an interview and many of us have over the last few days. This speaks to the egalitarian structure of our fansite. While our servant-leaders (volunteer board of directors, administrators, and sueper moderators) help all run smoothly and as courteously as possible, the energy comes from widespread grass-roots interest and talent. As active supporters, we carry more accurate details about Susan’s life and career than most journalists.

At our lovely luncheon today, the call went out for someone to volunteer for this assignment. Others could have served admirably, but I raised my hand first.

Bonnie’s and my instructions were: “A cab from BBC will pick you up in front of the Premier Inn at 4:15.” Which it did.

The very courteous staff at the BBC Newcastle offices checked us in, gave us our badges, and asked us to make ourselves comfortable. Which we have done, despite a few nerves.

Suddenly, it’s 4:40. The show’s producer greets us and leads us into the green room, where we can view the radio hosts through a soundproof window. The friendly young woman producer chats casually with us, helping calm our nerves.

Now it’s 4:47. The previous interviewee – a sports star – emerges from the studio, and in we go. Bonnie had not intended to speak, but the producer and host and I wheedle her into sitting in front of one of the mics. She is hooked.

I think you’ll agree she has a future in radio!

And, by the way, I meant to say, “April 11, 2009” and “100 million YouTube hits.” Thank you for understanding.

Listen here (thanks to a supporter in Pennsylvania who quickly uploaded the interview to YouTube for easy access):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr4CZtZLQO8

“Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: that wisdom preserves the life of its possessor.” (Ecclesiastes 7:12)
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