lillibet | Opening Night

Well, that was amazing. I'm always humbled by the magic that seems to happen on opening night. No matter how well-rehearsed you know your cast are, no matter how good the set looks the day before, the transformation between dress rehearsal and opening night is still stunning. Hearing the audience laugh and gasp and seeing tears in people's eyes as they experience for the first time what has become so familiar to cast and crew is beautiful. Someone described Theatre@First as my ministry, my way of reaching out to draw people into what is important to me. Usually I feel that applies only to the people involved in the group, but last night I felt that we were really reaching our audience in a way that I haven't really appreciated before. Perhaps it's the intimacy of the show, both in subject and staging, but I felt so close to my cast and our audience at the same time.

Congratulations to my outstanding cast and thanks to everyone who was there and everyone who has helped to make this show happen in such a short time.

Those of you who are still looking forward to it, I can honestly say that I think you have a real treat in store.