lessons learned

At the close of each production, I like to take some time to think about what I learned. This time, what I learned from 'The Secret Garden' is also what I learned from Season 2 as a whole.

Lesson One: Don't Quit
I almost didn't direct 'The Secret Garden'. I had some things going on in my personal life at the beginning of the production that gave me severe anxiety and depression. I felt insecure and uncomfortable and miserable. I made my dad attend several rehearsals with me so I could show him what I'd been working on in my head with the idea that he would take over. . . . He never took over. His presence calmed me enough to get me through the tough rehearsals and he made me see that my vision for this production was unique enough that only I could make it clear. I had to see it through to the end. Directing this production was one of the hardest things I've ever done (for many reasons, maybe I'll share another time), and at the end it was also one of the most rewarding. I grew as a director and as a performer, even though I wasn't on the stage. I learned from so many people and met the most incredible people. I would have missed out on so much beauty and passion if I had given in to my fears.

Lesson A: People, people, people
People matter. They have to know that they matter. When we leave this life, we take no earthly possessions with us though I believe that we will be with other people. The people we surround ourselves with, the effort we put in to believing in them, interacting with them, getting to know them - every part of that matters. In Season 2, we had 96 different participants onstage in our productions. That is incredible and many many more than in Season 1. That doesn't count twice those who were in multiple productions - that is 96 different individuals who were on stage during Season 2. Wow! And 65 of those did not participate onstage in Season 1. Their first production was at some point during Season 2. PEOPLE! The talent we saw this year, the growth we saw in our theatre from start to finish was incredible and immense. From 'Charlie Brown' to 'Music Man' to 'Secret Garden' - the theatre is almost unrecognizable. In two short years, we have reached a vast amount of people not just in terms of numbers of ticket sales, but people who are wanting and willing to be part of the Arts community. What a beautiful and exciting thing to be part of. These people matter. They are important and nothing that is done at the theatre would be possible without the many people who are there doing every job from leading lady (or man) to cleaning lady (or man) and everything in between. Take care of your people.

Lesson 1: Revitalization isn't about the economy
Vernal Theatre: LIVE won an award from the National SBA titled: "Community-Revitalizing Business of the Year". It's a very exciting time for the theatre and there is going to be a fancy awards ceremony and stuff. I'll share more about it later. The important part of this lesson came unexpectedly after a representative from the SBA came out to talk to me, put some things together for the award ceremony and see 'The Secret Garden'. He sent me a text after the show telling me how much he enjoyed it and then said "I know I chose the right award because of the audience tonight. They really left revitalized!" . . . WOW!
I'd been so focused on the good the theatre has been doing for the downtown economy (and there is A LOT of good we've done - it's almost a rant, though, so I'll leave this for another time, too) that I hadn't realized that the most important revitalization we can do is for the hearts of the people who come to and are part of our productions. Isn't that beautiful and incredible? It takes it back to people! It takes it back to not quitting something because it's hard or you don't get the role you want. We are not just revitalizing the economy, though that is good and important, we are giving energy back to people who want to live their passion. We are breathing life into the Arts, which in turn moves into each person who is participating - onstage, backstage or in the audience - and which becomes a healing and soothing power. As I look at the people who have participated in Vernal Theatre: LIVE this Season, I see men and women who are finding themselves. I see children who are opening doors in their lives they never knew existed. I see families bonding over a shared passion. I hear people express their emotion and admit to feeling something. I feel a joy that lifts my heart and gives me courage and drive to keep going and keep working even as trials continue to mass. We are revitalizing hearts through the incredible power of the Arts. That is more powerful and meaningful than any economic difference we could ever make.

I cried during a production for the first time all Season on closing night of 'The Secret Garden'. The show ends with Mary finding love and acceptance with an Uncle who has had his heart 'revitalized'. She doesn't quit - she perseveres and saves the garden, saves her cousin Colin, and through the renewal she herself experiences, she is able to contribute to the health and happiness of people who love her. As Mary found her home, tears left my eyes and I said goodbye to the Dreamers as they bid their farewells to Mary. I thanked each one (silently of course because there were audience members two feet from me) and vowed to remember always that if I focus on the people and never quit, I will be revitalized. In fact, I can now see that I have been all year. Now when people ask "how I do it all", I know the answer - love and serve and focus on the people, and you'll have all the energy you need to accomplish the tasks you've been given. You will be revitalized and power and love will come the likes of which you've never known.

:)

facebook silliness

I like taking Facebook quizzes. Not, like, crazy Facebook quizzes and I don't really take them often. Just now and then when I see a lot of my friends doing it and the results look interesting. I definitely don't share my results because . . . well, I don't know, really. But sometimes Facebook says nice things about me and so I screenshot the results and keep them saved for a rainy day. ;)

Unfortunately, I have too many other things I want to save on my other devices, so I am going to share a few that I've kept around so I still have easy access to them, but without having to have them downloaded on my device.

Don't judge too hard. ;) Like I said, I keep the nice ones.

1. I love this mix of people it says that I am, though it's definitely a little biased since at the time, Stacey was posting on my Facebook a LOT. So. :)

2. "Why are you crazy?" And this is what it said. It came at a time when I was struggling with the theatre- opening Season 2 and just a lot of stress and pressure. It made me feel so SO good and like maybe I was doing something right after all.

3. This one was nice, too. Though I unfortunately succumb to fear more often than Facebook realizes. ;) It was a strengthening reminder anyway.

4. "What does your name mean?" Anytime Facebook reminds me of Beauty & the Beast, I just get so absolutely happy. Of course, it's probably set up to know that so I keep coming back, but it's working. And I don't mind too much.

a new piano

We recently purchased a new piano after saving our money for almost a year. When we knew we were going to be moving, we knew we wanted a new piano and so started saving where we could for that purpose. We didn't want one before we moved (moving pianos SUCKS), but wanted to be ready when we found the "right one". Well, we found it and we LOVE it.

Old piano. Nice starter piano, worth the money we paid and we got a lot out of it. 

Sold in 30 minutes on a Facebook Yard Sale page.

 New piano. Came recommended by our piano tuner (who I trust completely) and the next week, Daniel borrowed a trailed and drove to Grand Junction, CO to pick it up.

I've played more piano in the last month than in the last year because I LOVE this piano.

Bought new-ish and sat unused for several years by an older lady who wanted a piano in her home but didn't play. Was sold as a second piano to a piano teacher in CO who only used it periodically.

Plays beautifully. We love it. And got it for a steal of a deal since it's technically "used", even though it hasn't been "used" much. <3

Music is healing to the soul.

Riverdance

Look! A picture!

For my birthday, my sister L bought us tickets to see Riverdance in Salt Lake. It was phenomenal. I've posted about it on Facebook & Instragram a lot already and I've written on this blog about how much I love Irish dancing, and Riverdance / Lord of the Dance. So! I'm not going to say too much except to just document (again) how much I absolutely loved it.

I remember watching Riverdance when I was really little and being fascinated by it. I wasn't older than 8, but the movement and the accuracy of the dancers was something so powerful to me. I loved pretending to be one of the dancers and listening to the soundtrack on CD with my sister and doing the dances, telling the story ourselves when we didn't have the VHS from the library. (those were the days!) We would watch it over and over and OVER.

Seeing Riverdance live was a dream come true. For 20 years, I have loved and learned so much from watching it and to see it in person was absolutely amazing. I cried a couple times and was a major fan-girl the whole time. It was nice to be in the back so that I (hopefully) wasn't too obnoxious to others around me.

If you ever want to talk about why I think everyone should have at least an appreciation for Riverdance (even if you think Michael Flatley is too much of a show off), then I am happy to do so. I think there are things we can learn at all stages of life from this one, beautiful art form.

It was the best night. <3

here a little, there a little

I blog regularly, then drop off the face of the earth, then repeat. Ha! So goes life I suppose.

I'm trying to make sure I don't only blog when life is difficult . . . that doesn't really give an accurate view and so I try to share the good and bad. The "real", as I like to think of it.

So we hit and we miss and we swing and we strike out and we make home runs - and it's all part of the "real", the ups & downs in life and that's ok.

We are in Preschool prep mode. I feel like a horrible mother and that my child is not at all ready. She actually is, and is really excited. Maybe it's just that I am not ready that I try to put on her that she is not ready. There is a lot we have to do before fall for both of us to really be ready, and I am looking forward to taking the summer off from performing to be able to spend some much needed time with Hannalyn. I just can't ever get enough of her and so this summer I really want to take time to be able to take my time. We are so structured all the time (which I love 99.9% of), I think it will be nice to have a summer where we still have commitments and workshops and stuff to take care of, but we can take time to take our time.

We have grand plans for our house and yard this summer. We'll see what actually happens, but we are looking forward to finishing the basement and getting some landscaping completed. Crossing our fingers for motivation. ;)

I want to go camping. And maybe on a road trip. Nothing fancy - just a few hours somewhere. But no commitments means we can actually do something like that. I'd love to take Hannalyn to the zoo. And go swimming. Maybe have a weekend that is more than just Saturday and then having to return before 2am to be conscious for Sunday responsibilities. Like Friday AND Saturday. It sounds nice, right?

Of course, reality will hit and we'll probably spend all summer lounging around the house cuz it's too hot to actually do anything, but it's nice to dream right now. ;)

Summer. I haven't looked forward to the summer in a long time. It's kind of exciting.