So. Here we are. Tonight marks my last opening night at Wayside Theatre, with what I think is a very, very funny production of Boeing Boeing. The cast is sensational and together we felt the show grow into its own during the two preview performances yesterday. It sure was great to hear some laughs after a week of tech rehearsals where no one laughs at anything anymore.
I'm sure tonight will be full of all sorts of mixed emotions. I know quite a few friends are coming in for this final opening and I'm greatly appreciative of all of the good thoughts and words that have been coming our way since I made the decision to resign from my position as Artistic Director at Wayside Theatre on June 28 and from those who can't make it to the opening. It is times like these when you find out who your friends are.
I'm imagining tonight's after party will go on a bit longer than most. And I have to admit, I'm looking forward to that. Not so sure I'm looking forward to the mixed emotions though. As Berthe says at the close of Act 1 in Boeing Boeing, "It's going to be a bumpy night."
As for Act 2, Thomasin and I are still in the process of working out our options for the future. Until we make firm decisions on that, though, the next gig is directing the comedy Things My Mother Taught Me in September for Circa 21, which follows Circa's production of Southern Crossroads, which I wrote with Steve Przybylski. By the way, there is a production of Southern Crossroads playing at Murray's Dinner Theatre in Arkansas currently, and one coming up at the Derby Dinner Playhouse in Indiana later this summer. We're taking some time down this week to make those decisions, drink a bit, and wrap our heads around what's next. There will be some writing mixed in there, along with directing and who knows what else. A bunch of folks in the community are talking about some kind of party in the next few weeks, and we'll probably take them up on that. We'll let you know if it happens.
In the meantime, there's a show to open tonight. So, time to plan the final tuneup. But before I turn to that, here's a curious observation. At least I think it is curious. So many folks can't wrap there heads around the distinctions between what an Artistic Director and a director does. Those of us in the biz understand this. But the number of folks who I've talked to these past weeks who don't have a clue as to how the magic arrives on stage is more overwhelming than I ever imagined. Perhaps, that's as it should be. After all it is supposed to look effortless.
I'm sure tonight will be full of all sorts of mixed emotions. I know quite a few friends are coming in for this final opening and I'm greatly appreciative of all of the good thoughts and words that have been coming our way since I made the decision to resign from my position as Artistic Director at Wayside Theatre on June 28 and from those who can't make it to the opening. It is times like these when you find out who your friends are.
I'm imagining tonight's after party will go on a bit longer than most. And I have to admit, I'm looking forward to that. Not so sure I'm looking forward to the mixed emotions though. As Berthe says at the close of Act 1 in Boeing Boeing, "It's going to be a bumpy night."
As for Act 2, Thomasin and I are still in the process of working out our options for the future. Until we make firm decisions on that, though, the next gig is directing the comedy Things My Mother Taught Me in September for Circa 21, which follows Circa's production of Southern Crossroads, which I wrote with Steve Przybylski. By the way, there is a production of Southern Crossroads playing at Murray's Dinner Theatre in Arkansas currently, and one coming up at the Derby Dinner Playhouse in Indiana later this summer. We're taking some time down this week to make those decisions, drink a bit, and wrap our heads around what's next. There will be some writing mixed in there, along with directing and who knows what else. A bunch of folks in the community are talking about some kind of party in the next few weeks, and we'll probably take them up on that. We'll let you know if it happens.
In the meantime, there's a show to open tonight. So, time to plan the final tuneup. But before I turn to that, here's a curious observation. At least I think it is curious. So many folks can't wrap there heads around the distinctions between what an Artistic Director and a director does. Those of us in the biz understand this. But the number of folks who I've talked to these past weeks who don't have a clue as to how the magic arrives on stage is more overwhelming than I ever imagined. Perhaps, that's as it should be. After all it is supposed to look effortless.
