"I was meant to tread these boards, of this much I am certain..."
I love the feeling of putting a show before an audience for the first time. No matter how confident I am with a production, it doesn't feel complete until it's been shared with an audience...especially a responsive audience! It felt so amazing when I made people laugh tonight. The incomparable Steve Wright even went so far as to tell me: "You're the one who started the audience laughing." Apparently I also, according to more than one person, "make an adorable stoner." That just might be one of my favorite compliments of all time.
Still, I'm antsy for something bigger. Not to belittle this production in any way - so much work has been put into the one-acts, and I truly think they're all wonderful - but coming off of The Glass Menagerie I'm slightly spoiled. That was such a juicy role, one that taught me so much about my own abilities. Being in that show brought new meaning to the term "performance high". I left the stage visibly shaking every night, and sobbed through curtain call on closing night. It was a spectacular experience, and one that will stay with me for a long time.
I want to do a show like that again. I want to sink deeply into a character. I want to feel wholly affected - physically, emotionally, mentally - by what I create onstage. I want to be exhausted and frustrated and angry and still love every minute of the journey.
In the meantime, I'm really grateful to be in a show, period - and I am having a lot of fun being a hippie. Come see the show, y'all!