"Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened."
Ever get one of those sentimental emails full of inspirational sayings like that? And all you think is yeah, yeah - thank you Grandma for yet another cheesy forward.
As you know, Sunday September 3rd 2006 was the final performance of "For the Glory" at the Majestic Theater. It was an emotional day - as it's been an emotional week - so please forgive me if I'm still having troubles putting my thoughts in order.
It's more than just the 12 weeks of shows and two weeks of rehearsals that I'll miss. It was the more then 12 months of anticipation - counting down the days until the cast got here, rehearsals started, the first preview and then opening night. When we opened, September seemed so far away. I wanted to enjoy every moment of this summer. I couldn't bring myself to think about the show closing. Even when the rumors started flying about an early closing, I refused to believe it. I couldn't stand the thougth of this amazing experience ending at all, let alone prematurely. And now, here we are. Almost a week after closing day. The cast and band are gone. They've returned to their homes to be with their families, gone back to school, moved on to the next 'gig' and the anticipation of what's in store for them next. The crew has left. Save the few that are part of 'Team Majestic' and will be returning for what can only be considered right now as the non-FTG shows. The sets are gone. Moved off to storage to wait for next summer. The costumes are gone. In storage with the sets in the hopes that those who wore them this summer, will be returning to reclaim them in the next 9 months.
The only things we have left are the memories. Memories of the first day the cast and crew arrived and I was trying desperately to remember everyone's name at check in. And the next day sitting in the rehearsal hall for our 'meet and greet', surrounded by what I didn't realize then would become my family for the summer. Of the first night at the Pub having a drink with the cast. Of the first party at the 'green machine'. The first poker game. The first rehearsal. The day the cast got their costumes (and I set my sights on Tad's hat). Tech week when I sat in my office listening to them running the same song over and over again - thinking there was no way the show was going to be ready by the first preview- and then the first preview when we had almost a full house cheering and crying throughout the entire show. The night before opening when the producers took the entire team out for drinks - maybe to calm our nerves for the next day as much as to celebrate it. Opening night, watching the show from the back of the house, feeling this overwhelming sense of pride for this show which had been, and would be a part of my life for so long. And of every show, every night out with the cast, every bonfire, every experience, every everything that happened between then and now.
And I can't thank them enough. I thank Frank and Jack and Gregory for creating such a beautiful piece. I thank Vincent and the other 'powers that be' for realizing that Gettysburg was the perfect place for it. I thank Jeffrey Gabel for trusting me to take this job and giving me this amazing experience. The producers for making it happen. The staff and volunteers for suffering through months of me talking about this show and listening to my every gripe and groan over it's duration - and still making my life much easier during it's run. I thank my friends and family for dealing with my absence over the past three months - and understanding that I did it because I loved this show. The fans who came out night after night and kept this show going. Most of all I want to thank the cast and crew of "For the Glory" for truly making me feel like I was as much a part of this production as if I was on stage with them every night. Never before have I felt so loved by a group of people then I have over this summer.
I miss them all dearly. The fans, the sets, the costumes, the cast, the band, the crew. I miss the 60 plus hours a week spent in the theater. I miss walking in the back door greated by Bob, our trusty company manager or Jonathan the Technical Director. Both of whom I will continue to work with until next summer. I miss the nights spent at Mama V's, or some other bar, until 2am only to have to be at work by 10am the next morning. I miss the themed parties at the apartments. I miss my daily greeting of 'hi Manda!' from Michael, followed quickly by 'what does the house look like today?'. I miss the last few numbers of Act 1 when I would sit in the green room with my cheesecake and watch the boys play Rummy. I miss my daily 'howdy' from Duke. My daily love from Bryan Guffey. My daily grief from KBK. I could sit here and tell you what I miss about each of the cast and crew, but this has drug on long enough. So I will just say that most of all - I miss my friends.
But as we readjust to life without "For the Glory", I look forward to what is to come. The shows that will pass through here for a day or two over the next nine months. Days off. A (somewhat) normal work schedule. Time with friends and family. And of course, the friendships I forged over the summer growing and seeing my 'kids' outside of "For the Glory". And of course, there is next summer to prepare for. We can only hope that the entire cast and crew returns for another year, but while that isn't likely or practical, I look forward to the familiar faces and the new folks who will get to learn what life in Gettysburg is like over the summer.
I thank you all for indulging me over the past several months - for listening to my rantings and ramblings. But please don't think this is the end. There will be "For the Glory" news between now and next summer, of that I am sure. So while the posts may be few and far between, I will be here to share any news with you that I come across.
So while I sit here at the box office, surrounded by the silence that has been missing since May, all I can say is - I have cried because it is over, but I am smiling because it happened. And will happen again.
For the Glory,
Amanda
