Does Momma Get It?

One of my favorite events of every performance happens AFTER the show. We have a bit of a lobby outside the Blackbox that parents and friends have been trained over the years to wait for their budding actor to express their love and support. Pictures, stuffed animals, and cheesy photographs abound. I would be easy to be very “above this,” but it is actually quite sweet. Anyone who poo poos this is likely jealous and missing a few stuffed animals in their life!

I am always a bit reluctant to “work the crowd” and go around shaking hands – – meeting the long lost uncle. I much prefer to stand in the corner of the lobby and just watch the love feast. Once a director – always a director.

There are times that I do have a mission. There are often a few parents with graduating seniors that are rather skeptical to give their blessing for their child to move forward to college and continue to pursue the arts. They are either so focused on the impracticality of the profession or they are dealing with some other stereotype of theatre kids and theatre schools and theatre activities. Of course, as with all stereotypes, many are well deserved – but a valid career SOMEWHERE in theatre is indeeed possible. I figure it best to hit the parents when they are weakest – right after watching their child perform. Strike while the iron is hot, you know . . .