In recent weeks I have utilized this blog as part of an
initiative to let everyone know what is going on at the theater, and keep as
many people connected to us as possible. I
will do some more of that later on, but first I ask that you please indulge me a
few moments of your time for some personal introspection, reflection, and soul
maintenance.
Sometimes, as an adult, it becomes too easy to get wrapped up
in our daily minutiae. We go to work, do
our jobs, pay our bills, take care of our kids, and along the way we lose sight
of the reason we do all of these things…quite simply…to live life to its
fullest. As good capitalists, we get so
distracted by the process of daily living and earning that living wage, that we
wake up one day realizing that we’ve been running in place for five years, or
our kids are getting ready for college, or that we have forgotten to utilize
the wealth we’ve acquired for its original purpose…to live.
As in all things, art imitates life.
Sometimes, once we get into the business of running a
theater we can become so focused on the little things: the advertising, the equipment,
the building, the season, plus the all-important finances, we sometimes forget
that we truly love what we do. We love
bringing art to life on the stage. We
love all of the people with whom we do it, and more importantly we love the
people FOR WHOM we do it.
As a mature, formally trained actor, I am personally guilty
of this. I can become so absorbed with
subtext, motivation, and character development, that I can easily forget the whole
reason I chose to spend my life this way in the first place…to have fun, to
make fun, and to bring that fun to others.
Tuesday evening, I
had the pleasure of attending a rehearsal for our next production, A Christmas Story: The Musical. Our choreographer, Cynthia Brandreth was
holding a dance rehearsal. All of the
kids involved in the number, both chorus and principals, were having an
absolute blast. There was laughing,
giggling, camaraderie, and legitimate learning going on as they watched Cindy and
learned their choreography. Their joyous,
reckless abandon on stage and their lack of self-consciousness made me
proud. Their complete trust in
themselves, each other, and in Cindy made my heart swell for the future of
theatre in our area. This is where the
love of theatre is born.
This is why we do what we do.
As is the case with all things worth knowing in this world,
it took the perspective of children to remind me of that.
As we head into the Thanksgiving Holiday next week, I only
ask that you distract yourself from the daily grind and remind yourself of what
really matters. Turn off the cell phone
and tablet, and connect with another live human being for a while. Be thankful for the opportunity not only to
live, but to experience life…there is a significant distinction between the
two.
Thank you Cindy, and thank you to all of the kids of Christmas Story, for reminding me why I love theatre, and more specifically…THIS
theater, so much. Thank you for
reminding me to stop and pay attention to the more important things once in a
while.
I am so very grateful, thankful, honored, and humbled to be a part of the storied history of The Music Box Dinner Playhouse.
...
Which now brings me to the less sappy, but just as joyous
portion of this post…A Christmas Story:
The Musical is selling fabulously!!!!
As of noon yesterday, 2 DATES ARE ALREADY SOLD OUT… 4 OTHERS
ARE NEARLY SOLD OUT (they may even be sold out by now) …and 6 others are
nearing capacity!!!
If you intend on seeing this wonderful show, please make
your reservations as soon as possible…right now, if you can. Because, once these tickets are gone, they’re
gone. Unfortunately, we cannot extend
this show due to its being pressed up against the holidays, and our cast and
crew need to spend time with their families too. (Please see previous statement, about paying
attention to what’s important.)
Thank you for your time and indulgence in these
musings. I hope each and every one of
you find someone and give them a hug today!
Keep doing IMPORTANT things!
…and save me seat at the theater, (you might need to...I haven't made reservations for myself yet!)
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