playbill vip

From the Director

Today, as I write this, just two weeks before opening night, snow is falling. That cannot surprise you, not this year. Another day of school is cancelled, and with it, another rehearsal. And today, Major League pitchers and catchers report to camp in Florida for spring training.

Applegate would appreciate the irony. In fact, this year's maelstrom of storms would make up some of what he calls "the good old days".

The winter has surely done its mischief to our production. I've wondered if we don't have our own private Applegate hiding somewhere in our theater, relishing the fact that snow and ice have so frequently foiled our plans. Our young performers, however, remain undaunted. The challenges of lost rehearsal time have galvanized them into an unusually focused team. Older students mentor younger ones, crew and tech members work out difficulties in the set and lighting, and students help each other to perfect dance steps that we've not had nearly enough time to learn comfortably. I am so proud of this team; they are inspiring.

Our 2014 NHTO students have a quality that the Washington Senators Manager, Van Buren, tries to instill in his team in Act One of the show.  This same inspiring quality is also embodied by our theater coordinator, as he quietly takes care of the tasks necessary to our production. It takes a unique person to step up year after year and organize a musical, build set pieces, purchase odd items like tape and batteries at late hours after rehearsal, and support a director who at least once a year is certain the sky is falling. That inspiring quality in this year's team resounds in an iconic song from our show, which the cast reprises three times throughout the production.  NHHS' Damn Yankees company has miles and miles and miles of that quality:  heart.