Director's Corner cont'd...
Our theatre mantra has always been “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” It is fitting that I honor those parts right now. Thank you to the adult volunteers in the program who’ve sacrificed and continue to sacrifice hours and money so that our kids get what they need. I value and appreciate you so very much. Thank you for coming back year after year even when you don’t have kids in the program anymore. Thank you, Kevin Dengel, for keeping us on track at the director’s meetings and charting all the stuff we need to remember. As much crap as we give you for this, we really do appreciate it. Thank you, Jeremy Lahman, for lending us your craft and talents to make us better than we ever thought possible. Thank you, Taya Lukacsko, for taking that leap of faith with me my very first year. We’ve learned together. You give so much of yourself. I count our friendship as one of life’s greatest blessings. You’ve now brought Kristin on board as well as Sarah, a graduate of the program. I cherish and value you. Chris Wagner…you have been with me during the worst moments (that little stint in the ICU the summer we took kids to Scotland is in the top five) and also during the best (that would be any show I have gotten to do with you.) You truly are the son I never had. I’ve watched you grow as a student in the program, as an educator and as a director. I am so proud of you.. (If I could just find that VHS tape of you playing Queen Elizabeth during the karaoke assignment your senior year, that would complete me.)
To my husband, Mario, and my girls, Maria and Juliana: the biggest thank you ever. You have shared me with my school family for almost 30 years. You have opened your hearts and our home (and sometimes even our front lawn when they choose to camp out in the middle of December) to so many of my students. Mother’s Day 2024 will be the first in sixteen years that you won’t have to share me with anyone else on Mother’s Day.
To all of my students, past and present: As President Teddy Roosevelt says in Newsies, "Each generation must, at the height of its power, step aside and invite the young to share the day. You have laid claim to our world and I believe the future, in your hands, will be bright and prosperous."
Don't just share the day, seize it.
With All My Love and Gratitude,
MM
