I find it kind of funny that my first show blog was titled after a song from Chorus Line (remember, God I hope I get it...) and here is my last show blog and I'm using a song from the same show. Believe me, I didn't do it on purpose, I'm not that insightful nor clever, but it is fitting. If you don't know or have never seen Chorus Line...first of all...shame on you. I remember being obsessed with that show in high school and getting the album (ha ha album...at least I didn't say 8 track) for a graduation present. I also remember someone, in a greater economic household (rich kid) than the one I grew up, in getting tickets to see the show on Broadway. What. Ever...I got there eventually, like 8 years later, standing room tickets...but I got there! Anyway the show is about the love of being a dancer/ being in shows and how these people couldn't dream of doing anything else but. What would you do if you couldn't do this anymore...maybe, grow up...nnnnaaaahhh!
The whole process of the summer show kind of brought me back to that feeling. How else would I spend the bulk of my summer. Why wouldn't I spend every night in a hot, stuffy auditorium, dealing with sound issues, actor issues, lighting issues, actor issues, costume issues and constanly putting out little fires (not literally, thank God)? I do it because of the love and because of the events of these last 3 nights...the show nights!!!
Opening night!!!!...my stomach is in knots...not little shoelace knots, big rope knots that you have to be a boy scout or a sailor to untie....The dress rehearsal went kind of "eh"....some tech problems, some lack luster performances but after 6, count 'em, 6 yummy rum drinks and a couple of shots I realized....I've done all I can. (slur the words this time) I've done all I can....
All three shows were just incredible and so well received by our practically sold out crowds (small auditorium = sold out shows) People were coming out of the rafters to say "this was one of the best shows we ever saw" "I go to these things all the time and this was the greatest one I can remember seeing" "that was so creative, who build the sets, who does the dances, where do the costumes come from?" "Where do you find these kids with these unbelievable voices?" "This was so good , it must have been so much work...I give you a lot of credit"
I can only take credit for surrounding myself with great people who know what they're doing and maybe a bit or two on stage that got a laugh. (what can I say...I know funny). The closing night finale ...the song "Home" which gets to me anyway...got me good that night. Seeing all those faces on stage, hearing their beautiful voices with the beautiful orchestra behind them was one of those moments. Thirty-five years ago...yes 35 (what's worse reading it spelled out or seeing the numbers)...I was one of those kids on stage having that moment. Not to be schmaltzy..it truly changed my life. I became one of those people that had to find some way to include the love of the stage in my life. It seems like I'm a carrier too because I've passed it on to my kids ...and our pets evidently. Louie/Toto who would not get off the stage the last night of the show.
I'm very lucky to be able to do what I love to do and to help these kids find their way. I heard some comments over the last few days of how this experience has changed their life and this opportunity has given them so much more confidence in themselves and how they feel like they are now a part of something bigger. Well if that isn't "what I did for love"...I don't know what is.
So there you have it ..."point me toward tomorrow." There will be another show next summer...but for now I guess I will have to think of some new topics to blog about. The fact that I work at a school and also in a restaurant will supply me with some fodder I'm sure. Plus, I am a wife, a mother, a sister, a daughter AND a gr gr grandmother(still hard to believe and to say out loud) ...there's volumes right there. Not to mention that I on a daily basis I shake my fist at the heavens because of some moron who refuses to go after I've waved them on at a 4 way stop sign that they were clearly at before I was but has to, in turn, wave me on even though they were there first...OY!...we got TONS to talk about....just saying.
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