When I was pregnant with my son in December 2021, my husband (a Harry Potter fan having grown up reading the books) received the Lego Hogwart's Castle as a gift. While he worked on building it, I, for the first time, watched all of the Harry Potter movies in order. While I didn’t think it was “my thing,” I found myself becoming more engrossed as I worked my way through the series. It was also nice to spend time together, enjoying something that he had grown up loving.
When the castle was complete, however, we weren’t exactly sure where to put it. It took up quite a bit of a footprint, and didn’t exactly go with the house decor. Then it struck me that the best thing to do was to create our baby's nursery around the concept of the world of Harry Potter. Our nursery includes the castle, a quote from Dumbledore on the wall, and a lot of other incredible little nods to the wizarding world.
So in thinking about a show to do this fall, and considering doing a play for only the second time in Aspire history, I came upon Puffs. I absolutely love how it takes the Potter world and turns it upside down. It’s so much fun to see the characters that we know represented on stage with a comedic twist. I watched the off-Broadway production on Amazon Prime several times, and found myself laughing that much harder being familiar with the characters in the story.
This cast came together only a month ago to put this crazy show up on its feet. I am so proud of how they have brought this magical world to life, and how they have mastered this particular show's madcap sensibility.
Beyond the humor, however, the show has so much heart. At its core, it is about being who you are, and trusting in what makes you special and sets you apart from everyone else. We may not always be the main character, but who we are, and what we do has an impact on those around us. It is important to cherish moments with those we love, and remember that what makes us unique is what unites us. Thank you to this cast and crew for coming together to make this a truly special journey.
-Lisa Beth Vettoso
Director
“It is very easy to feel like you’re only a secondary character in somebody else’s grand story. That does not mean, however, there isn’t another story out there that’s all about you." -Puffs
