I?m not sure how this song from ?The Sound of Music? wound up being a holiday standard, but hearing it on the radio this morning made me think of a few of my favorite things about my job this time of year at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company.
1. My Office is also a Rehearsal Hall: Listening to actors run their lines for Romeo & Juliet just outside my door, discovering them on the floor creating giant shadow puppets out of cardboard, or pausing a moment to watch three of them work out a tricky bit of physical comedy with three hats and two horns reminds me of one of the key questions I asked myself in college when I was deciding on my major: ?What sort of people do I want to work with every day for the next forty years?? My answer was ?theater artists? and I still think I made the right choice.
2. Theatre is Still Magical: Last week, my office was above a European train station. This week, that space is transforming into the backlot of a Hollywood studio. I love to wander downstairs and see our production team create whole new worlds out of paint and two by fours.
3. Thinking Ahead to the Next Season: Artistic Director Brian Phillips and I are deep into the planning process for the next season of shows, an always challenging but exciting time. I love when he pops his head into his office with a big grin on his face because he?s just found the perfect play.
4. Seeing Families At the Theater: I?m proud of the fact that almost any night at CSC brings in an audience that spans several generations, but I really love seeing the extended families that make seeing a play part of their annual holiday tradition. Knowing that parents, grandparents, teens and little sisters can all go home together talking about what fun they had seeing a classic play warms my heart.
5. Receiving Gifts from Loyal Patrons: ?Tis the season of giving and, as a non-profit, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is blessed to receive many generous contributions this time of year. I can?t tell you how much it means to the entire staff to open the mail and find a gift from a long time subscriber or new friend. We feel so lucky to be a part of this community and to bring Shakespeare and the classics to you all season long. Thank you for keeping the company in your thoughts this holiday season.
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