Remarks to the NC Historical and Literary Association upon EbzB Productions Receiving The Hardee-Rives Award for Dramatic Art, 2017

Remarks to the NC Historical and Literary Association upon EbzB Productions Receiving 

The Hardee-Rives Award for Dramatic Art, 2017

by Serena Ebhardt

Thank you.  Friends, I hope you will allow me this moment to address my son, Carlton.

Carlton, 

Dad and I want you to know that this award is not for being the “best” in our art form.  Instead, this honor is bestowed by our peers, the most esteemed in our state, who have also made mistakes, faced rejection, and suffered frustrations.  Through those difficulties, they have perfected the wisdom that enriches their work.

Receiving this honor confirms that our efforts, just like yours, do not go unnoticed.  And, while it could be viewed as a feather in our cap, we prefer to think of it as a meaningful nudge to continue our difficult work 

We have had to ask for a lot of help on our journey.  We share this honor with our entire company— all of the artists who have contributed to EbzB.  Especially you, Carlton, who as a company member of EbzB plans our travel, proofreads our materials, translates portions of our scripts into Spanish and Chinese, and accommodates our crazy schedule.  Just like all of the parents and teachers who are here tonight, we know that we do this for you, our children, because YOU are the history of our future.

Carlton, please persist.  It does matter.