So, we close Guys On Ice this weekend. It’s been a good run, and while last week’s houses were wonderful, this week is tremendous! 1 empty seat in the house last night. Only 5 tonight. Saturday matinee has about 9 left, but Saturday night only has 3 or 4, and Sunday matinee has none!

I had a moment tonight. It’s been a while since I had a moment like this one – in the creation of a company, and the everyday running of it, it gets easy to lose the excitement, the joy of what you’re doing. Lately it’s been a lot about the nuts-n-bolts of things: schedule, budget, are we bringing in enough money, are we prepping for the next 3 projects, etc… Tonight, though, I house managed the show. And it was the second night in a row of house managing, and it was the second night where we had a packed house, and they were loving the show.

So, Act I went wonderfully, and then I’m standing inside the theatre at intermission, watching people mill about in the theatre, and in the lobby – they’re chatting, they’re laughing – the place is loud with the excited hubbub of people having a good time. Some are drinking their concession sodas, or eating their concession beef jerky (yep – there’s beef jerky in the show, so for fun we sell it at intermission, and people love it!!). Some folks are standing around the theatre laughing and comparing the show to others they’ve enjoyed, or talking about where they’ve seen the actors. A couple are onstage (yes – in our theatre the audience walks ACROSS the stage to get to the back lobby, art gallery and restrooms – it’s fun), it’s not unusual to find people at intermission onstage inspecting the set for this show, and this particular couple is checking out the details of the ice shanty and, as they make their way back towards the seats, they do an impromptu re-enactment of a couple of lines from the show, cracking themselves up and laughing as they cross to their seats – they’re clearly having fun, and the show will stick with them.

So I’m watching all of this, and it occurs to me – We did this. Not We Did This, but We DID this. It was less than 18 months ago, June of 2006, when we opened the doors on our first production and prayed that someone would come.

And here we are, wrapping up the first show of our second full season – and wrapping it up with style. We’ve got a sold out weekend, we’ve got a new facade and marquee on the building, we’ve got season subscribers and people wanting to usher shows. We’ve got monthly donors, and classes for young people. There’s a Christmas tree in our lobby that’s being auctioned off as a Habitat for Humanity fundraiser, and next month we’ve got 2, yes 2, holiday concert events. There are things going on that, well… give the place a life that astounds me. I was hugged this evening – hugged – by a season subscriber who came out after the show laughing with her friend, and hugged me saying “Oh, this was just the best one yet!”. I mean… amazing.

Of course, it’s not all perfect yet – people aren’t getting paid what they’re worth, yet…but we’re loving what we do.
Are we as integral a part of the local community as we’d like to be? Not yet – but we’re getting there, and more partnerships and collaborations are on the way.
Is every week as sold as this one? Not yet. But, if tonight is any indication, someday.

Someday.