In 1982, Holly, Timothy and Laurel created a show that they performed only twice: at Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley and at Royce Hall in Los Angeles. They combined songs, sketches and good old-fashioned play —as their mother used to say, “A child’s work is to play.” Assisted by long-time friend, pianist and arranger Jeff Langley, bass player Carrie Barton, and keyboard artist Adrienne Torf, the show was a grand hit.

As time moved on, Timothy became an award-winning director, working in regional theaters all over the U.S. She worked as a hearing actor with the National Theater of the Deaf and introduced American Sign Language to Holly and Laurel. Laurel co-founded SPACE (School for the Performing Arts and Cultural Education) in Ukiah, California. Holly continued her career, singing, touring and teaching.

Recently, boxes of tapes in storage revealed film of the first show in Berkeley as well as rehearsals of both shows. The footage is sometimes a bit dark and the sound uneven, just like old movies tend to be. Yet, with the help of The Understory, the sisters find the material still to be fun and entertaining.