Dear Avalon Family,
Welcome back! We've had some an incredible year and I am so glad to welcome you to this beautiful show!
Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella is a different take on the classic Cinderella tale, but I love the optimisim, girl power and hilarity in this show! I fell in love with it the first time I directed it in 2017. Our company looked VERY different then with just me as the director and adult, but it has always had a treasured place in my heart. I hope it will have a spot in yours as well!
As always, there is an army of people to thank for helping get this production where it is now. Thank you to my amazing Assistant Director/Artistic Director/Choreography/Pixie Dust, Sarah Anderson who the kids affectionally call "Bad Cop" for her ability to give notes and help block, character work and in general "pixie dust" this beautiful show, organized spirit buddies and in general, helped keep us sane. Thank you to our Technical Director, Molly Harper, who I am more than blessed to have in my life. You make actual magic! Thank you to Steve Carroll, who helps keep the rest of us grounded. We're so glad you decided to come back to us even after the rollarcoaster of graduating your twins. I am glad to have your hairbrained schemes rattling through this place once again. Your evil laugh in thee wings does haunt my nightmares. Thank you Melanie Robison for your tireless work to get these kids ready musically! They sound beautiful thanks to you! Thank you Adam Foreman for whipping your exceptional students into shape to provide us with an amazing pit orchestra! Thank you Jai Haines for helping coach us to new heights and David Norton for teaching my students to float across that stage! Thank you Maddie and Lauren for returning to the Avalon stage after 7 YEARS and teaching my kids so many new skills to help them create these beautiful costumes. Thank you to the many theatre teachers and programs who advocated for many years to have funding for Theatre staff and the School Board for choosing to make it a reality. For most of my years at Champe, it was me, doing the jobs of 12 people and managing sometimes over 100 kids. Having a staff this year has changed my life and the lives of my kids in ways too numerous to count. Thank you to my Theatre Boosters for helping to revitalize this program and make it even better. Thank you to our Fine Arts Team and all their work helping make realities happen for kids in our programs. Thank you to our admin team for allowing us to do theatre and put up with all our weird requests. Thank you to my bookkeeper (for putting all those orders in). Thank you to our fine arts admin for continuing to push forward despite amazing obstacles. Thank you to my amazing family, especially my husband. I can't believe you decided to be the official Theatre "Dad" even when they attack you anytime you set foot on campus. Thank you to our patrons for their financial support and finally, thank you to you. Without an audience, there is no show. Thanks for coming back and filling seats.
Sincerely,
Nicki Shepherd, Lead Director
