Thank You!
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There is no place I would have rather spent
the anniversary of my “coming to life” – the
day I was born.
I carried a table into the costume room
with Chelsea, one of my beloved cast members
for “Five Women Wearing the Same Dress”.
She said, “It’s your birthday! You should take
off… really. What are you doing to celebrate?”
I didn’t skip a beat. I said, “I am here.”
Chelsea didn’t see the celebration in this
Chelsea
moment – but to me, the theatre – in any
state – is a place of celebration and creation,
a place where I feel the most
connected and whole.
I thought I was being so smart. I wore a
dressy outfit to the theatre and wore it
through intermission.
I also had a “Strike” basket. It was actually
a picnic basket I bought for “Sunday in the
Park with George.” It was large – and I
wanted to have a tool to quickly gather my
personal stuff off the stage as soon
as the show was over.
I figured I could leave the booth and get
onstage and take everything down and then
get to my other “end of show” jobs.
I also had a change of clothes – from my nice,
dressed up outfit into a T-shirt and Sweat
Pants. I actually changed in the darkened
booth during Act 2 between sound cues.
Brilliant! I thought.
The Women took their final bow and I
stepped into the audience to whoop
and holler.
I saw Chelsea asking the audience to
quiet down and in that moment
I knew.
“Julie, where are you, Julie?!”
Oh, no. I was going to have to go on stage
in all my Strike-Finery. The only thing worse
would have been going on stage in my Painting
clothes or perhaps, one worse, my
Fame-Dance-Rehearsal Look.
It was exactly a year ago-to the day- that
the “Play it Again, Sam” cast called me on
stage to present me with gifts to express their
thanksgiving for my work. They didn’t
know it was my birthday.
This cast, the Five Women times Two
plus a couple men for good measure,
they knew.
Jenn plopped Frances’ crown on my head
Frances
as the cast and the audience sang a spirited
version of “Happy Birthday” accentuated,
naturally, with “Cha Cha Cha Cheez Whiz”.
The audience held lots of people who have
been important to my artistic life both as
An Actor and as a Director. I reveled
in the moment.
My favorite moment, though, was quietly walking
past groups of people talking about the show,
listening unseen to their observations and witness.
I received several “Congratulations” before I sat
at the desk in the office to complete some paperwork.
It was among the fastest strikes I have ever
experienced. I wasn’t surprised – this team
proved repeatedly how well they worked together.
Folks from “The Tavern” pitched in to help
as did Jeremiah’s wife, Julie and Jenn’s “22 day,
some hours and another set of minutes” beau,
Seth – who came to see the show every time she
was on stage and many times he came as
a Reception Guest.
I was moving furniture in the shop when I heard
Michelle’s voice. “Where is my leader?”
she called.
“You mean me?” I responded.
“Yes… you.” I looked up and saw Michelle
walking towards me.
“I have everyone assembled for you.”
Our final circle – our final time holding hands as
a cast. The circle looked differently now than
when we started. We had a couple different cast
members, we had the wisdom of success in our
hearts and the connection of love in our spirits.
The theatre emptied and last moment hugs
were offered.
I breathed Halli’s words into my heart, an
echo of my own to significant Directors in my past.
“Thank you for casting me,” she said as she hugged
me. We both trembled as we let the tears come. “I
will remember this for the rest of my life.”
Yes. It is true.
There is no place I would rather spend the
anniversary of my “coming to life” – the day I was
born. This place where my soul was reawakened,
my art enlivened, my heart to depths unknown and
to many mysterious places which continue call to
me – hopefully for a long, long time.
The theatre.
It brings people to life.
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