Reflections of a summer on the road
Well, folks, tonight was our 51st show of the summer and we only have two left at this point. Kinda crazy. 51 shows...some days it's hard to believe that we're almost done. Other days I roll out of bed and my back feels every one of those days spent on a mini-bus. I love it though. I really do. I've loved spending time again with Noah and Dan and getting to know each of these great guys again. And I will greatly miss my fellow cast members this fall when they return to HU and I don't.
This is now my second summer touring with the Huntington theatre department and I think this changes my perspective a bit. Some different lessons can be learned from touring a second time with a different show and different group of people. As Mike mentioned in a previous post, every night on the road is full of surprises. Problems have arisen that have been unpredictable and sometimes unavoidable...so the ability to improvise is quite vital.
One of the most extreme cases of improvisation occured the night that both Dana and I got ill right before the show and were unable to perform. I know that this was challenging for the cast...but in a way, it was challenging for me as well. I have never missed a performance before for any reason...and in a show like Godspell where each person is on stage for the full two hours of the production, I felt guilty that I was unable to do my part. The cast did a wonderful job of picking up the missing parts of the show on the fly and the audience that night was one of the most enthusiastic and supportive crowds that we have had all summer.
While I hated missing the time with the cast and being able to do the show (which, incidentally, I love to perform), I was grateful to the cast for stepping up and covering the slack...but even more I was reminded that as an individual...I am not absolutely necessary for Christ's message to be shared. Once I got past the initial blow to the ego, I recognized the wonderful blessing that this is. Heaven forbid that the Christ's ability to reach hearts be based on my level of perfection because I am reminded daily of how far from perfect I am. But God is faithful and while there have been many challenges (both on and off the stage), people have continued to be touched and lives changed because of the love and joy of Christ. I may be a very flawed person, but in telling the story of Christ's perfect love, God has touched many hearts.
That's just one of the things I have learned this summer...and I'd love to talk to anyone that's interested, but that's the thought that's on my mind tonight. Thank you to all of you who have been in prayer for the tour this summer. We have relied on it at every step. God bless you all...and good night.
This is now my second summer touring with the Huntington theatre department and I think this changes my perspective a bit. Some different lessons can be learned from touring a second time with a different show and different group of people. As Mike mentioned in a previous post, every night on the road is full of surprises. Problems have arisen that have been unpredictable and sometimes unavoidable...so the ability to improvise is quite vital.
One of the most extreme cases of improvisation occured the night that both Dana and I got ill right before the show and were unable to perform. I know that this was challenging for the cast...but in a way, it was challenging for me as well. I have never missed a performance before for any reason...and in a show like Godspell where each person is on stage for the full two hours of the production, I felt guilty that I was unable to do my part. The cast did a wonderful job of picking up the missing parts of the show on the fly and the audience that night was one of the most enthusiastic and supportive crowds that we have had all summer.
While I hated missing the time with the cast and being able to do the show (which, incidentally, I love to perform), I was grateful to the cast for stepping up and covering the slack...but even more I was reminded that as an individual...I am not absolutely necessary for Christ's message to be shared. Once I got past the initial blow to the ego, I recognized the wonderful blessing that this is. Heaven forbid that the Christ's ability to reach hearts be based on my level of perfection because I am reminded daily of how far from perfect I am. But God is faithful and while there have been many challenges (both on and off the stage), people have continued to be touched and lives changed because of the love and joy of Christ. I may be a very flawed person, but in telling the story of Christ's perfect love, God has touched many hearts.
That's just one of the things I have learned this summer...and I'd love to talk to anyone that's interested, but that's the thought that's on my mind tonight. Thank you to all of you who have been in prayer for the tour this summer. We have relied on it at every step. God bless you all...and good night.
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