3 JANUARY
Tuesday
Upon returning to class after Christmas break, I learn that my home room teacher, Mr Russell, died. For a while, it’s a weird sensation not seeing him come into the classroom in the mornings.
Dean and I head to the Musical Theatre of Calgary once again to rehearse for Where's Charley?
21 FEBRUARY
Tuesday
I receive a letter from Noella Recordings saying they found a letter from me about my music which I previously sent to Dominion Records, but they couldn't find my demo tape. They suggest I get in touch with Power Music Publications.
5 - 15 APRIL
Wednesday – Saturday
I appear as a chorus member in the Musical Theatre of Calgary's production of Where's Charley?
MAY
I appear as 'Mr Sewerman' in the Western Canada High School production of The Madwoman of Chaillot. And for this production, the director, Dave Cormack, lets me play the part with a bald wig.
JUNE
I hand in a science fiction short story during an English class. Next class, it's returned to me with a note from my teacher, Mrs Sujir—“Stay away from science fiction, Michael, it won't get you anywhere”.
I [finally] graduate Grade 12 from Western Canada High School and receive my second high school diploma [in December].
I receive a note that I made ‘Honour’ student in Drama [thanks to the excellent instruction of Dave Cormack].
[W.C.H.S. Drama class]
It was interesting to find out that Dave Cormack also taught my son 25 years later when he was in Grade 12. Apparently, Dave asked him if he was ‘the son of Michael Woodhead’. I can’t believe he remembered me after all that time!
It also puzzles me, now, that seeing my obvious interest in music and art when I was growing up, my parents never made sure I could take music and art during my years in school; I so terribly wanted to do so, but for some reason, they weren't subjects available to me. Perhaps it was the old stigma that creative people don’t make money, but people with a ‘real’ education do.
SUMMER
I read Robert A Heinlein's 1961 science fiction novel, Stranger in a Strange Land. It makes such an impact on me because I feel like the main character—in the world, but not of the world—that I begin to go by the names of ‘Valentine Michael Woodhead’, and ‘Valentine Michael Smith’.
I also write a song inspired by the title of the book.
SEPTEMBER
The Musical Theatre of Calgary begins rehearsals for The Wizard of Oz.
26 – 30 DECEMBER
Tuesday – Saturday
The Musical Theatre of Calgary presents The Wizard of Oz in which I play the part of ‘The Private’.
Shortly after this production ended, the Musical Theatre of Calgary closed its doors for good. I’ve found little information on the group other than a couple of notations in Calgary’s W R Castell Public Library pamphlet section.
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