First and most important, I hope no one expects this director’s note to be something special just because I had an extra year to write it . . .
What a year, well, what a thirteen months and two days. That’s the time that passed between telling our cast and crew that we would be suspending rehearsals and opening night. We left so suddenly that stuck to my laptop were two notes on post-its from our last rehearsal that I hadn’t had a chance to give to students. Those notes stayed on my laptop throughout the remainder of the school year, over the summer, and as we began our year virtually. Every time I opened my laptop to check emails, look at pandemic info and even to teach classes those notes reminded me that there would be an “after this.” Things wouldn’t be the same “after this,” not everyone would be there “after this,” but there would be an “after this.” Those post-its gave me hope, a moment to close my eyes and think about when we would be back together working on this show.
Some of the cast and crew members have been working on this show for almost 17 months, others since January, some just joined us in the last couple of weeks, but no matter how long they’ve been involved I can’t imagine this show being what it is without them. One of the themes of “Sister Act” is acceptance of change, acceptance of differences. This cast and crew has not only had to learn that lesson, they’ve had to embrace it in all aspects of their lives.
To stay or get involved with this show these students had to be willing to take a leap of faith that safety protocols would still allow them to feel connected to each other and this show. They had to take a leap of faith that conditions would allow us to be able to perform on stage (although a lot of them told me when we talked last Fall that our backup plan of performing outside in the stadium rain or shine sounded pretty fun - even with airplanes). They had to take a leap of faith that we’d be able to have an audience, either in person or streaming. They took that leap of faith, and and they landed it. Their hard work, their sense of humor, their caring for each other, and their willingness to sacrifice is the kind of contagious that we need. Not only are they together on stage, but conditions have improved so that many of their friends and families will be able to see them in person and because we’ve added live-streaminglive streaming many people who wouldn’t be able to see it are going to be able to.
As you watch tonight’s performance I believe that you see the hard work, determination, talent, that all these students have brought to “Sister Act” and I hope that it fills you with the same hope and joy that has carried me. -gem-
