Saturday, May 14, 2011

Appleton Thank You

It was a great engagement at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. Thanks to everyone involved who made it a very pleasant couple of shows.Thanks to Erica, Randy, Jason, Steve, Gerald, Polly, Amy and especially Captain Pete. You are all true professionals. It is the backstage people who make a theatre great and these are great people. I really felt like I belonged here and although the theatre is much too new to be haunted, it is my kind of place.
A special shout out to Aaron and Judy who drove 6 and a half hours from Springfield, Ill just to watch the show. I can't tell you how humbled I was to think that you would make a such a journey. They are working on a plan to bring the show to Springfield because it really has its roots there. I think it would complete the saga of Art Sieving to actually perform the show, that is a Valentine to him, in his hometown.
Now it is off to Rochester, NY and a sit down for three weeks. This show has not had a chance to settle into a run for a long time and I am looking forward to it. There is nothing like being able to stake a claim to a run, a theatre and a community for more than just a hit and run. One gets to find the local jokes and personalize the show to make it relative to the moment and the location.
This is what theater is all about. Film can deliver the same performance every time, but theatre is an organic flow of immediacy. There is nothing like it. I am a hard core junky for live theatre... there is nothing quite like the thrill of knowing this moment is like none other and will never be repeated again.
I am so grateful that I get the chance to do this work. I am so blessed to be a part of this show and get to tell this story. Often I experience a perspective that takes me out of the reality of being the performer and lets me enjoy the moment as an observer. There is no way to adequately describe this sensation but when it happens, as it did for moments in todays performances, it is truly is unworldly.
Onward and upward traveling to more people who will come and listen to my tale. I will sleep with the sublime exhaustion of knowing that as much fun as I had today, can happen again in a few days. Whatever my dreams tonight, they will pail to truth of today. My gratitude abounds and my soul is filled with thanks to the benevolent deity that controls this path.
As you were,
Jay

1 comment:

Judy & Aaron McEvoy said...

Jay,

We want to say "thank you" for an absolutely wonderful evening. I'm sure you have heard all the compliments before, but we laughed most of the night and found ourselves wiping away tears as the story unfolded. I found myself wanting to see the show again and I know Aaron feels the same way. We WILL make this happen in Springfield. As Aaron said "it just HAS to happen".

Enjoy the sit-down in Rochester! and Happy belated anniversary to you and Sandi!!

All the best,

Judy and Aaron