I have more seniors involved in this production than I have ever had in one show, and they are a truly incredible group of leaders. They are generous, talented, creative, hard-working, and intelligent, and they have paved the way and set the tone for the talented up-and-coming performers and technicians in their midst. For nearly four years, they have given me hope that kind spirits are still alive and well in this stormy world. They are, in many ways, my compass.
So, when they asked for a challenge this year, Mrs. Marquart and I knew just the show. We had been holding this heartbreaking, beautiful, hope and love-filled gem of a show in our back pockets waiting for just the right moment. We thought it might be a hard sell to our company since the show didn't have a lot of name recognition, but we put our faith in the beautiful story and in our savvy students. We knew they would get it, but we didn't know how quickly.
To our surprise, the moment we said, "We're doing a bluegrass musical full of heartache, love, and hope," they cheered. They started researching the time period and the accents, learning everything they possibly could about the show and its history, preparing for the performance you are about to see. We are so grateful for their hard work and dedication and for putting their faith in us and in this lovely aching tale that reminds us all that, even in the darkest times, the sun is gonna shine again. Thank you for joining us and enjoy the show.
