There are few things in life that compare to the thrill of opening night of a production. I have expressed many times to my students how much I love the stage, how the stage can transport the audience to not only a different part of the world but a completely different time and culture. We hope that you feel this tonight as you watch Fiddler On The Roof.
Musicals are fun and bring together all of the arts in one program. To do this it takes a community effort and the community of Holbrook once again showed why we love to call Holbrook home. I need to publicly thank Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robbie Koerperich and High School Principal Lance Phaturos for their overwhelming support of this musical and all the arts, without this support this could have never been more than an idea.
Everyone who worked on making this production a reality did so as volunteers and recieved only the warm feeling of service and the graditude of the cast. Thank You to all those who gave freely of their time, talents and energies. Dwayne Hawk for his amazing artwork on the sets you see tonight and his wife Kreslie Hawk who not only helped paint the sets but also took a lead role as an acting coach. Loni Hatch and Spencer Radzanowski for their fantastic choreography. David Smith for building a house that the fiddler could SAFELY dance on. Brian and Daisy Gohl for the lights and sound, all our work doesn't mean anything if you can't see and hear. Faryn Seal for desiging the beatiful posters. Virginia Pond as a vocal coach. Margaret McClellan taking on the huge undertaking of making sure every person on stage is in the appropriate costume. Jennifer Edwards for helping round up all the many props needed. Cheryl Carlson for organzing and running the daycare during the performances. My mother-in-law Kathy Carbonneau who sewed us boot covers when I was to cheap to buy real ones. Sarah Meeks and all the orchestra members; one student said after our first rehearsal with the orchestra "how cool is it that these guys would give up their time to come do this for us." I agree you guys are pretty cool. My amazing wife Alli who did this awesome playbill and every other little thing I needed along the way all with 3 rugrats in tow. Without her I would have quit long ago, she is my strength and my muse.
Thank you to all the parents who have shared your kids with us these last few long months and preparing them for this experience. I am lucky enough to work with the very best students at Holbrook High School and while sometimes they may not believe it, they need to know that I truly love and appreciate each and everyone of them. I know this will be a benefit to them thoughout their life for the things they have learned.
Thank you for being a great audience and supporting the arts here in Holbrook. I tried to count how many total hours we put into preparing this production and when I crossed 1,000 hours I stopped counting. All these hours will culminate into just 4 performances and without you the audience it would be an awfuly boring 4 shows, so thank you again for continuing to support the Holbrook High School Arts Department by your attendance here tonight and at all of the events we have throughout the year.
Kyle Gardner
Director
