Lots of folks at Austin Recovery are looking forward to the (NBC) premiere of Friday Night Lights. In addition to being an incredibly addicting show, one of the characters this season is battling an addiction of her own.
Angela Rawna (raw-NAY) plays Regina Howard, the mom of an East Dillon football player. To prepare for the role, Angela called Austin Recovery and asked to do research on addiction and rehab. She spent countless hours with staff soaking up information on addicts and alcoholics, absolutely committed to understanding the battle addicts face both when using and when trying to get clean.
Bill Wigmore, Angela Rawna (c) and Stephanie Sobotik at Sustainer's Luncheon
To give her a better feel of what it’s really like on the streets, one of our employees adopted her and took her around town to show her where she used to hang out, how she acted, what was important to her when she was using and what happened at Austin Recovery to finally help her stay clean.
My Direct TV friends (smug as they are) tell me she nailed it, which is a surprise to no one. Angela was deeply moved by the impact this disease has on individuals and their families. Her compassion for and determination to get the character right mirrors the compassion we have for our clients and the treatment we provide.
Regina Howard doesn’t make an appearance until the second episode, but the buzz in the office is building. We wish the best for Regina, but we appreciate the dedication and friendship of Angela Rawna even more. It’s going to be a great season!
If you haven’t been a fan, rent the DVDs and catch up. Either way, the new season starts at 7 p.m. CST Friday NBC. By the way, keep your eyes open for other Austin Recovery “actors” throughout the season. Tammy Lusk makes a cameo as a fan in the stands and board member Steve Hicks and his wife Donna Stockton-Hicks play the parents of another player on senior day. If you’re quick, you might even catch Ofelia Taylor’s son marching in the Dillon band.
Read more about Angela Rawna and her research on drugs and addiction in Dale Roe’s Austin American Statesman column. But more importantly, tune in. You won’t be sorry!