"" bshawise: Bon Voyage

Monday, December 22, 2008

Bon Voyage

Well, we set sail on our three day voyage last night. Regretfully, I didn't smash any champagne bottles anywhwere. Can you do that mid voyage? Does that bring scurvy/ bad luck? Anywho, opening night was a success. I have so many thoughts and emotions (the manly kind, of course) right now that it's hard to decide what to reflect on. So many stories have emerged from all the volunteers gathering together to tell the one story of the {re}gifter. I hope to log them all in some fashion some day. I think the feeling for most of the cast and crew is that the actual performances are simply the icing, the cherry on top. The real fun was the work leading up to it. I really feel like for the most part I was able to enjoy that work in the moment this year. I didn't want it to hurry up and end so we could get to this point. But it does make me think about how often we set our sights on the story's conclusion and miss out on all the tiny stories that emerge along the way. I know Hallmark makes cards with that general message. But those are my thoughts this morning. It's all about the tiny stories.


One of those stories is about Stephanie. She made this junk shadow of the Cincinnati skyline a month ago. When she came to transport it from the warehouse workspace over to its destination she found it destroyed. We're thinking nogoodnik kids. She cried. This project was the first time in a long time that she got to let loose and just create. She had a rough summer and fall. This piece was more than just cans glued together. So, in a matter of a couple nights, Stephanie recreated her skyline and got it set up in time for opening night. The proud glow in her eyes after she finished on Friday night was magical. While I was in the middle of a dress rehearsal where numerous things needed fixed I was able to celebrate with Stephanie.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I promise I'll get a better picture tonight where you can actually see the Cincinnati in lights.

It was fun to stand around and listen as people figured out what the junk made.

It was something along the lines of...

Hmmm...it's a bunch of cans....Oooohhh look it's Cincinnati's skyline.

Anonymous said...

Excellent job on the whole production Brad! The long hours/days definitely paid off.

It was a beautiful cherry topper to a great message series.

random blogger said...

Saw the show on Sunday night with some invited friends. They loved it as did I. The junk skyline is definately not trash. Awesome! My favorite piece. It captures both the theme of the {re}gifter plus the vision of VCC....small things for Cincy. Tell Stephanie she did good.

John Arns said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
John Arns said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
John Arns said...

now that the threat of scurvy has passed and danger of stormy seas (and ice storms) abated, smashing a champagne bottle somewhere sounds like a good idea...

hark, new years eve doth approacheth.