All good things must come to an end.

After six weeks of rehearsal and eight performances, Stage Center's production of Jesus Christ Superstar closed the curtain one final time. That last performance was bittersweet. From what I understand, they all are.

Everyone put out their best performances. There was no holding back from any of the cast. The band was flawless. The lights were on point. Everything went the way it should have...then it was over.

I'm no stranger to this.  It's like ending a great book, or seeing the final episode of your favorite TV show.  You have become so invested in the story, you feel genuine loss when you don't have it anymore. But the feeling of "post-show depression" is much different. There are no chances to re-read it or see it in reruns. I thought I was prepared, because I had seen my theatre friends go through it, but I wasn't.

As I'm writing this, it has been four days since the show, and I have had the soundtrack in my head when I have woken up every morning. It's now gently fading away, like a radio station as you drive farther from home. I'm told, one day, I'll wake up and it won't be there anymore. I don't know if I like that, either.

One thing is for certain.  I will miss this show.  Not just because it was my first time on stage in 18 years. Not because of the excellent music.  Not because of the story, or costumes, or any of that. I will miss the people.

I will miss the moments that we shared working our guts out making this thing come to life. I'm sure I will work with most of them again, since I have decided that theatre is a good place me, but we will never have JCS again. But we all share those memories. And, of course, tons of pictures.

I am truly blessed to have been part of this amazing production, and even more so to have been included in this amazing family that is Stage Center.

I would like to thank Jared Watson (director) and Seth Taylor (Jesus) for giving me the opportunity to perform with such a wonderful group of people. I really cannot say enough good things about either of them.  They are both warm, accommodating, helpful, and true artists. They even let my daughter Darby swing around a spotlight for her first time. She had such a great time, and it was awesome to work with my kid in the theatre.

I'd also like to give my thanks to my fellow cast members Rick Stovall (Caiaphas) and Megan Lowe (Annas) who helped me pull the emotion out of my last number. To Isaac Haas, Cassidy Giddens, Emily Mwakitawa, and JP Pou; I wish I could have worked drectly with you on stage, but watching your performances from the wings was close enough. To Missy Wise, your musical direction was amazing, and your help with my voice ("tighten your tummy") was instrumental (pun intended) in me being able to hit all the notes without shredding my voice. And thank you to the ensemble that shouted at me...you know who you are.

Above all, I would like to give the deepest and heartfelt thanks to my long time friends (no...family) Stella Allen, Emily Buckner, and Aubrey Buckner.  I would have never had auditioned had you not talked me into it.  I will never forget that. You made me prove to myself that I could do it.  And I'm not leaving theatre again.

Of course, thank you to all of the fine people who came to see the show. You're the reason we keep doing these productions.

Until the next time.   ::bows::

Check out these pictures from some of our backstage/onstage/goofing around experiences:

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