“Two things cannot be in one place.
Where you tend a rose, my lad, a thistle cannot grow.”
― Francis Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden
To my cast:
It is hard to put into words what this beautiful show has come to mean to all of us. Certainly, it has been a rose that we have tended together, a rose that has driven away so much of the darkness surrounding this crazy year. Although it may sound silly, in many ways this small theatre has been our very own secret garden. It has been a place of refuge, where we have all gathered to create and to give life to something. It is a place where we have found normalcy when we were all so desperate for it. I will feel forever grateful that I was able to share this experience with each of you. What we have grown here together is truly magical and exceptionally beautiful. I will remember it forever.
I would have never foreseen the circumstances that brought this particular group of humans together to bring this particular show to life. However, that was another one of the many blessings this show has provided me with. To my alumni, I am so happy that I was gifted with the opportunity to work with each of you again. It has been such a joy to reunite and see the wonderful ways in which you have grown and developed as performers and as human beings. I am so proud to know each of you. To my current students, I thank you for coming along with me on this unusual journey. No, this wasn't the fall the we envisioned, but, as always, your dedication and desire to perform anything, anywhere, at every chance you get never ceases to amaze me. You have each grown tremendously through your work on this production, and I am so proud of you and grateful to you for sticking with me always. To all of you, I am so impressed by your achievements. This is the most difficult score I have ever presented to any of you, and through your tireless work, you have managed to conquer it. I thought this show would always be out of reach, but, you made it possible, and it has been such a wonderful experience working through it with you.
To my crew and team:
Thank you so much, all of you, for agreeing to make this show a reality with me. You never let me down. Ruth, I feel like I say this time and time again, but you have outdone yourself again. You have truly transformed the space. Your creativity shines through in this set. Trips--you ladies are amazing. I don't think there is anything that you cannot do. Thank you for your dedication and hard work in building this set. Kipp, thank you for your meticulous work on the light design and programming. Deb, thank you for all of your hard work in teaching the cast the music; everything after this one should be a breeze! Erika, thank you for the choreography--we can't seem to escape the waltz in any show we do. Kyle, thank you for agreeing to do the sound and for the time you took on our publicity photos and videos. It was greatly appreciated. Leona, once again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for providing us with a home over these past few months. You have been a joy to work with, and we all truly support your efforts to help us make this show a success. You will be so very missed. Drew, thank you for stepping in and helping us see this production to its end.
To the audience:
Thank you for your ceaseless support, both in person and virtually. I hope that you will love this show as much as I do.
With my deepest love and gratitude to you all- Mrs. Drum
