I cried last night.
That’s not unusual because I cry when literally anything in my life happens. But I cried in my car with one of my best friends over the impending end of something that I love so much.
I’ve loved theater since I was seven years old when I saw The Phantom of the Opera for the first time. I’ve loved participating in theater since I was ten years old and was a lost boy in Peter Pan.
I know that my love for theater will never change. I will always be in awe of the performers and proud of the crew, whether or not I’m participating.
But I also know that the people make the show, and I’m not going to have my people anymore.
I’ve always tried very hard not to be cliché and write sad, sentimental stories. But I am sad and sentimental right now, so bear with me as I unleash all my feelings.
I’ve imagined what my last show would be like since I experienced the sadness of a last show in my freshman year. I’ve imagined walking into the Fine Arts Center on Saturday, seeing all my friends, and then sobbing because I know that it’s the end of the best thing ever.
I’ve imagined my final bow. Looking out into the audience, knowing that I look horrendous because I’m not a pretty crier, but I can’t stop the tears from falling.
I’ve imagined it all, but as it approaches, I know that it is going to be so much worse. I know that I am going to cry uncontrollably the whole day. I know that I am going to be devastated, and I know that seeing my teary-eyed friends is going to break me.
I plan on writing at least once more about how incredible and life-changing theater has been for me, but I just can’t help but take a minute and remember everyone who has helped create the program that I’ve come to call home.
From Mrs. DeMeester, who allowed me to join as a little baby freshman, to Miss Dykstra, who has been the best director I ever could have imagined, I have had so many people help me get to the position I’m in today.
Like I said before, it’s the people that make the show. It’s Alex, who is so kind and funny, and who I am so glad to be able to call my friend. It’s Audrey, who is so kind to me and so determined to be the best she can be. It’s Aubrey, Addie, Abby, and Annaliese—my A’s—who are the next generation, who I know will carry on the legacy with pride and continue to put on the best shows. It’s Micah, who has become such a great friend to me, who makes me laugh all the time, and always tells me what she’s thinking.
It’s everyone who has ever been in the theater program with me who has made it mean so much to me. It’s those people who are the reason I cry as I write this because I don’t ever want it to end.
I’ve loved theater since I was seven years old. And although that love will never leave me, it will always be my people who carry on my love. And my impending goodbye will be the cause of all my tears from now until it inevitably happens.
