Saying thank you to the many amazing people who help to make the spring musical is an easy task in theory, though I do not believe words will ever be able to express how thankful I actually am. The army behind me takes on countless jobs to help me maintain my sanity and turn out another phenomenal production. From music directing to choreography, ticket sales to publicity, costume organizing to cast party planning, the friends and parents who are willing to step in and help are priceless and true heroes. Casey Perkins, Laura Goode, Dot Knepp, Marie Knight, Lynn Williams, Jennifer Ricks, Beth Collier, Karen and Dale Richter, and Kelli Roberts are a few of the many who willingly immerse themselves into our crazy, dramatic world in support of their students, me as director, and DWS performing arts in general.
In addition to my theatre family, my own family remains a significant part of being able to make the spring musical a success. My mom, though she thought she retired two years ago, is still busy working with soloists, running rehearsals on the rare occasion I have to be absent, and painting sets on her “days off.” My dad designed and built the set single-handedly, and I hope it takes your breath away as it did mine the first time I saw it. In addition, he works tirelessly at the soundboard to make sure our students are heard and have music to accompany them.
The staff at the Municipal Auditorium always welcomes us back with open arms, claiming we are their favorite event of the year (and they swear they don’t say that to everyone). We have come to find a home away from home here, and our students are lucky to have such a beautiful and historic surrogate theatre in which to perform.
Also, a huge expression of thanks goes out to parents, grandparents, friends and family for making sure students get to rehearsals and for supporting what we are trying to do with this program. Some of these people often go without the recognition they deserve, but the show could not come together every year without the help of all of you.
Finally, my heart goes out to the outstanding cast and crew you are about to see before you. Since January, they have learned lines, practiced songs, perfected dances, tapped up a sweat, and created another theatrical masterpiece. Many of these students willingly choose to tackle the spring musical on top of intense course loads, sports, literary, church, dance, and other extracurricular activities.
Saying thank you is a breeze compared to saying goodbye, and this year is an extremely difficult one. In 2007, I used my spring break to return to DWS and help with The Wizard of Oz. While here, I was offered a job to teach at Deerfield the following year. That same spring musical marked the munchkin debut of several of this year’s senior class, many of whom have continuously been dedicated to Deerfield’s performing arts program through musicals, chorus, band, one-act, and literary ever since. They have been the major backbone of our program for nearly a decade, and after so long, our stage will look a little different next year without their faces and the others who have joined them along the way. I can only hope they know how thankful I am for their years of unwavering dedication to the Deerfield Windsor Thespians.
Since 1988, DWS has never failed to transport audiences to an entertaining world of theatre, and Anything Goes continues in the DWS tradition. With no further ado, I invite you to step aboard the S.S. American as we set sail for a toe-tapping adventure on the high seas.
Lindsey Stewart
Director
