Hi from Iraq! My unit has arrived "in country" as we say in the military — meaning we have arrived in Iraq. We moved up to final destination from Kuwait on Christmas Day. There war not any snow on the ground, but it was cold here. YES! It does get cold in the desert, and it is their winter season. Instead of snow though, this is when Iraq gets most of its rain. However, it did snow in Baghdad the other day — the first time in about 40 years. I am in the southern part of the country, so we didn't get any snow.

Though I was disappointed at not being able to direct "Messiah On The Frigidaire" for Playshop, I will still be directing the show here in Iraq. I contacted the author, John Culberston, and asked him for permission to perform the show here without a royalty payment. Mr. Culbertson responded to my email by saying: "....you just made my day, if not my whole year......". Mr. Culbertson was very honored to give his
permission for us to do his show here in Iraq for the US military personnel stationed here with me. We will be doing the show at the end of April / early May. The head Chaplain (who is from my unit) is 100%
behind the show being performed. He thinks it is just irreverent enough to be hilarious, and should bring a smile to everyone that sees it. I will begin auditions with in the next week or so, and rehearse around the work schedules here. Most of the soldiers work 12 hour days, so it will be interesting to be able to pull this off. It’s a good thing that Waterville Playshop has given me lots of chances at producing, directing, lighting, sound, set construction, costuming....well you get the idea. I have a stage manager all lined up, and a couple of other people to help with the running around. I am looking forward to the challenge of doing a show in Iraq!

I wish Playshop well in the rest of the season and for the cast and crew that will be doing "Messiah" at Maumee Valley Country Day School.....BREAK A LEG!!!!!

My mailing address here in Iraq is:

SFC John D. Oster

300 MP BDE

APO AE 09375

All mail will be answered — I promise. I will keep you all advised on how the production here progresses.

Until then —– John Oster