The End Of A Beginning. Once Upon A Mattress.

Last night was the closing night of my first college show, and I'm sad now, so you are going to get a post about the beauty and heartbreak of theatre.

Once Upon A Mattress. A comedic, musical, retelling of "the princess and the pea." My first college musical. I went through a lot - emotionally - during the rehearsals and the run of the show, and my heart is kinda full. This show was the start of something new for me, and now that it's over I don't really know what to do...

Being in theatre means that, for a few weeks, you pour everything into the show: your heart, your soul, your time, your energy, your life. When it's all said and done, you will literally have put blood, sweat, and tears into the production. And then, after the performances - however many you have - you tear it all down, and it's gone forever, except for the place that it will always hold in your heart. The moment you are cast, you become a part of a family. A crazy, annoying, loving, hard-core, wonderful, amazing, family. And saying goodbye isn't easy. There is nothing else like theatre. The fleeting nature, but lasting impact, holds beauty like none other.

I got stressed and aggravated many times, but I also was encouraged, inspired, and entertained, and those many little happy moments are what I will choose to remember in the coming years. 

I feel like I have grown as an actress and a human, and I am grateful.

I am also very very very grateful for the people that I had the pleasure and honor to work with. I gave and received friendships, and I feel like I'm now a part of the group. 

I could probably talk for hours about how wonderful and painful it all is, but I don't want to start crying.

THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO WAS IN THIS WITH ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE ALL WONDERFUL AND I LOVE & APPRECIATE YOU ALL SOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME FEEL LOVED AND INCLUDED!!!!!!!!

"There is magic in the theatre, the theatre is magic, and blessed are those that make that magic."

Here's to you, and here's to me!