10 minute read
LISA MORTIARTY (PG
WHAT DISEASES ARE HIDING IN YOUR MOUTH? Disease can be TMJ • hiding in your mouth which can find its way into your blood stream DNA TESTING • to create inflammation contributing to diabetes, Alzheimer’s, heart SLEEP DISORDERS • disease, high blood pressure, certain cancers, kidney disease or even a stroke! HEADACHES •
IMPLANTS •
SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU? unique practice that looks at the Complete Health Dentistry is a relationship between your mouth ORTHODONTICS • and body to determine the most appropriate way to treat your COSMETICS • overall health. We call this the oral-systemic connection. VENEERS •
HEALTHY MOUTH • HEALTHY BODY • HEALTHY LIFE
At Complete Health Dentistry of Woodland Hills, our entire team is working hard to educate and change public behaviors and address the importance of oral health as it relates and links to a patient's overall health. We believe in offering a complete range of dental services under one roof to make it convenient for our patients and their families. We also know that by making good oral health a priority, you can reduce many risk factors for developing other general health problems. WE FOLLOW STRICT COVID PROTOCOLS
TMJ • DNA TESTING • SLEEP DISORDERS • HEADACHES • IMPLANTS • ORTHODONTICS • COSMETICS • VENEERS • LEARN MORE ONLINE AT: WWW.CHDWH.COM
WHAT DISEASES ARE HIDING IN YOUR MOUTH? Diseas hiding in your mouth which can find its way into your to create inflammation contributing to diabetes, Alzhe disease, high blood pressure, certain cancers, kidney even a stroke!
SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU? Complete Health Den unique practice that looks at the relationship betwee and body to determine the most appropriate way to trea overall health. We call this the oral-systemic connectWHAT DISEASES ARE HIDING IN YOUR MOUTH? Disease can be HEALTHY MOUTH hiding in your mouth which can find its way• HEALTHY BODY into your blood stream • HEALTHY LIFE At Complete Health Dentistry of Woodlandto create inflammation contributing to diabetes, Alzheimer’s, heart Hills, our entire team is working hard to educate and change public behaviors and address thedisease, high blood pressure, certain cancers, kidney disease or importance of oral health as it relates and links to a patient's overall health. We believe in offering a complete range of even a stroke! dental services under one roof to make it convenient for our patients and their families. We also know that by making good oral health a priority, SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU? Complete Health Dentistry is a you can reduce many risk factors forunique practice that looks at the relationship between your mouth developing other general health problems.and body to determine the most appropriate way to treat your WE FOLLOW LEARN MORE ONLINE AT: overall health. We call this the oral-systemic connection. STRICT COVID
PROTOCOLSWWW.CHDWH.COM
LEARN MORE ONLINE AT: WWW.CHDWH.COM
TMJ • DNA TESTING • SLEEP DISORDERS • HEADACHES • IMPLANTS • HAVE A QUESTION? TALK TO THE EXPERTS... ORTHODONTICS • COSMETICS •
Dr. Bruce Beard and Dr. Manny Fernandez are here to VENEERS • consult with you regarding Complete Health Dentistry
WE FOLLOW STRICT COVID PROTOCOLS
HEALTHY MOUTH • HEALTHY BODY • HEALTHY LIFE
At Complete Health Dentistry of Woodland Hills, our entire team is working hard to educate and change ernandez are here to O THE EXPERTS... Dr. Bruce Beard and Dr. Manny Fernandez are here to HAVE A QUESTION? TALK TO THE EXPERTS... Dr. Bruce Beard HAVE A QUESTION public behaviors and address the importance of oral health as it relates and links to a patient's overall Call us at (818) 436-0565 and mention this article for a Complimentary Wellness
Complete Health Dentistry consult with you regarding Complete Health Dentistryhealth. We believe in offering a complete range of Exam which includes X-rays and a private consultation consult with ywith the doctor *($249 Value) dental services under one roof to make it conve436-0565 and mention this article for a Complimentary Wellness -rays and a private consultation with the doctor *($249 Value) Call us at (818) 436-0565 and mention this article for a Complimentary Wellness Exam which includes X-rays and a private consultation with the doctor *($249 Value) Call us at Exam whichnient for our patients and their families. We also know that by making good oral health a priority, 42 The Hidden Hills Register & Resource Guide | November 2022Address | 22600 Ventura Blvd. Suite 204 Woodland Hills, CA 91364 Ventura Blvd. Suite 204 Woodland Hills, CA 9136442 The Hidden Hills Register & Resource Guide | November 2022Address | 22600 Ventura Blvd. Suite 204 Woodland Hills, CA 9136442 The Hidden Hills Register & Resource Guide | November 2022Address you can reduce many risk factors for developing WE FOLLOW
Memories of Glorious Gloria
This article was edited from the original version
For over 35 years, more than 5,000 kids memorized lines, learned song lyrics, mastered dance steps, and overcame opening night jitters so they could step into the spotlight on the Hidden Hills Children’s Theatre stage to shine like the stars that they are. They all shared one common connection: Gloria Watts. Her name is synonymous with children’s theater in the valley, and her dedication and encouragement for more than three decades has culminated in an unparalleled program in the Hidden Hills community.
Gloria inherited her love of theater from her mother, who performed in vaudeville before spotting her strict Italian aunt and grandmother in the audience when her troupe toured in St. Louis. Gloria recalled, “My mom taught us all to sing! My first song was Judy Garland’s ‘You Made Me Love You’.” Gloria continued performing until she had children of her own, at which time she returned to college, earned a degree in education, and launched her own children’s theater program. Her three grown daughters, Katie, Sara, and Mary, always participated in the arts.
Many of our children grew up alongside Gloria’s, reaping the benefits of her passion for theater and teaching. Gloria’s productions graced the stages of several schools, including Cleveland, Round Meadow, Welby Way, Bay Laurel, Oak Hills, Yerba Buena, St. Mel’s, St. Francis Xavier, and Medea Creek Schools, as well as in communities like Bell Canyon and Hidden Hills, where the first Junior Players show, “Rhythm in our Nursery Rhymes” which Gloria wrote herself was performed by 12 children in an old shed. The early program was limited to summers, but as interest grew it became year round, with as many as seven shows each year.
Gloria’s efforts were supported by the theater committee chairs and many parent volunteers, including Mary Barnhill, Clare Weber, Kitty Ogilvy, Nina Gaberial, Maria Rubel, Pamela Boothe, Nathalie Blossom and Ralph Lake. Gloria recalled Ralph took all of the old lights from the old theater during construction of the current theater on Long Valley, and managed to utilize the one plug at a temporary outdoor venue near the Spring Valley Arena Park. “It was beautiful, we had picnic tables and families brought their dinner and wine. We did Peter Pan, Sound of Music, Once Upon a Mattress, Carousel, and a circus show—all outside! When we did South Pacific, Ralph was amazed at how the sun went down in the middle of ‘Bali Ha’i’.” When asked about other memorable Hidden Hills shows, Gloria admits it’s a very hard question, but her favorites would have to include Les Miserable and Cabaret. 2009, but she humbly described the most rewarding part of what she does as follows: “Knowing that each child is happy and changed by his or her experience in theater. They make friends, gain confidence, have fun, and learn so many valuable life lessons.” Gloria’s teaching produced several great creative talents, many who have successful working careers in the entertainment industry, including Tony Award winners, studios executives, actors, film makers, comedians, and singers.
In her last days when words were hard to communicate, Gloria was still able to impart a lasting lesson when she said “Time is time. You don’t waste it.” On August 7, 2022, the daughters held their mother’s hand and sang “Never Never Land” as she took her last breaths. Katie wants everyone to know that their family is “proud of the legacy she left behind, the thousands of lives she changed, and what she instilled in every child that she taught, directed, and loved. She gave people what they needed to see themselves as worthy, talented, and special.”
GLORIA WATTS MEMORIAL
There was standing room only indoors and outside at the Hidden Hills Community Theater and Multipurpose Room to say a final farewell to Gloriajean Watts. The memorial began with the reading “All the World’s A Stage” by grandson Soul Whitaker delivered by his mother Katie when he was overcome with tears. A short video followed, loaded with vintage scenes of her performances spanning many decades with family, friends, and students backed by a sentimental soundtrack.
Emotions flowed as the presentation opened on the familiar stage overflowing with scores who gathered to sing and appear in honor of their cherished mentor. Gloria instructed at numerous local theaters and the outpouring of talent returned to remember her remarkable personality. Theater enthusiasts and committee members Mary Barnhill and Nathalie Blossom nostalgically recollected the hundreds of children’s lives Gloria encouraged. Clare Weber remembered “In Gloria’s plays, nothing bad happened. Gloria spun fairy tales and sprinkled magic.”
Gloria believed in the healing powers of performance and would hold out her hand for nervous children to place their stage fright in before they went onstage. Friends laughed as they remembered the craziness of the productions, which included parents sometimes frantically building sets and sewing costumes. Yet all were brought to tears knowing how transformational the experiences were for the parents and children who made lifelong friends and became professional entertainers.
Screenwriter, showrunner, and producer Kerry Ehrin described Gloria as a wild kaleidoscope of a person whose life force she greatly admired: “I have done theater in so many different places. Your theater was unique because you were unique. As a person who trades in characters, you were a character up there with the greatest. Funny, passionate, irreverent, outspoken, defender of the underdog, wounded, fearless, even when you were actually fearful. You were brave, you held in your heart an idea that theater transforms people.… You understood those imperfections were what made it so human and endearing and honestly so fun and funny. The embracing of imperfection was part of your beauty. You understood the secret. That the experience was the goal, not perfection.”
The speakers reiterated that Gloria was a friend, mother, and educator to be celebrated. After the tributes, the family thanked the guests and welcomed everyone to join them at the Sagebrush Cantina for another reception. Gloria was hopeful that the Hidden Hills Junior Players would continue for years to come and that new families would experience the joy of drama. The local community agrees and would like to again thank the Glorious Gloriajean Watts for her devotion to the Hidden Hills Children’s Theater.
