What A Glorious Feeling

First and foremost, I know it's been a while since I've written on here. While part of it is because I have a lot going on in my life, sometimes I struggle with wanting to put my thoughts out into the world. I don't like judgement, but I want to capture an audience. I want to be remembered, but I like the solitude that writing provides. Aside from work emails and the occasional letter, the most writing I'll do is in my journal (or, at least for a brief period, a diary). It's a release for me; I like knowing that I can just write for myself, forget what I wrote, and then come back to it years later. I didn't always give myself credit at the time, but I was pretty good at being introspective. Half the time I didn't even realize what I was writing at the time until I looked back on it. It's like my mind just goes, and the words flow out.

"Why do you write like you're running out of time?"

Speaking of amazing musicals, I want to tell you about a show that is near and dear to my heart: Singin' in the Rain. I first heard of this show in 2009 when I was a junior in high school. Our drama club director at the time was (and still is) extremely passionate about all things theater. When we do a show, we were going to do it right. Don, Kathy and Cosmo would spend an additional month learning how to tap dance. Furthermore, our director confirmed immediately that we would make it rain on stage. It'd be a technically challenging ordeal from rigging to the cleanup but we were all in it together. The first time I saw the rain come down on the stage to create a "curtain" that our Don Lockwood danced and sang through, I was blown away. (I was even lucky enough to walk "through" the rain arm in arm with a lovely companion. While I didn't have any lines, it was fun). After the applause and the curtain for intermission, it was all hands on deck to carefully get the water back into our pumping device, filter...I'm not quite sure what it was. That was now seven years ago and while the tiny details are a bit of a blur, I'll never forget how I felt. There was something magical about putting on a show after working on it for months and months with people you otherwise might not have known. The memories you make, the friendships that form, lip syncing to your favorite lines backstage, having your first dress rehearsal... I could go on and on.

Seven years later, I found myself at The Palace Theatre at a matinee performance of Singin' in the Rain. I had gotten nosebleed seats for my boyfriend and I because I'm saving those orchestra seats for Hamilton.

"Just you wait, just you wait..."

ANYWAYS, while we were waiting (for it), I found myself paroozing through the playbill when I came across some startling information: Manchester, NH was once home to 22 theatres. But over time, theatres lost their popularity. Between that and wanting to make room for the new growth the city was experiencing, they were all torn down. To this day, The Palace is the only one left. It was actually scheduled to be torn down in the 1940s but through the efforts of the community, it was saved. Now their mission as a non profit theatre is to bring high-quality performances and educational opportunities in the arts. It's also been around for a century, making it older than the Richard Rodgers Theatre where, you guessed it, is where Hamilton will be until they get a national tour going.


The lights dimmed, safety announcements were made, and I was transported back in time. While the ensemble was smaller than what we had in high school (as nearly all shows are), it had more similarities than differences. For one, they gave it their all at a matinee (as my director often pointed out the only difference between the two shows was what time they were performed). Secondly, they did what I was looking forward to the most: making it rain on stage. The gentleman next to me was quietly singing along with Don Lockwood and I mouthed the words as well. I even got teary eyed.

When the show was finally over, there was a boy in front of me (no older than 7 or 8) with his parents who excitedly chattered about how much he loved Cosmo Brown, especially in the number "Make Em Laugh". Little did we know that the cast was waiting for us in the lobby, thanking us for coming before they got ready for the final show of their tour. Upon realizing this, this kid went up to the actor who played Cosmo and was smiling so hard that my heart nearly melted. When Cosmo got down on one knee so he could be at eye level with the kid and take a picture together, that was when my heart melted. The future of theatre starts by engaging the audience. Whether you're 7, 24, or 74, the theatre offers something for everyone.

So the next time you're looking for something to do, spend the money on a ticket and see a show. Whether you have the nosebleeds like I did or a front row seat, I bet you that you'll experience a glorious feeling, one that you won't forget anytime soon.