I have so much to say about the Opera, but words fail me.  How does one accurately portray the feeling of pride, the overwhelming satisfaction of justified ownership, and the absolute child-like delight of seeing a creation of your wildest imagination manifest itself in a true, real, and very grown-up way. I don’t know if I can find the words.

It seems like I’ve been talking about this Opera forever.  From the moments of conception where Erin, Jacob, and I pushed salads, and then Thai food, and then pizza, around our plates as we fed our more deeply rooted hunger for creativity- to the hours I spent caressing and modifying every turn of phrase, lovingly adorning my characters with their sense of self, imbuing them with history, and comedy, and richness- to the publicity deluge, including the photo shoots, press releases, endless interviews and synopsis.  So many words, and yet, in the end, I haven’t found what I want to say.

Yes, of course, there is Thank You.  Thank you to my amazing cast, who breathed their own life into my words, to the crackerjack crew, especially Paul and Jim who helped me to make it through the parts that were a particular challenge, to the glorious, uncompensated musicians for loving music more than money, to Amy for her wonderful attitude and infinite patience as she guided our puppet dog through nightly abuse, to Everett for giving us his generosity over and over and providing costumes I could never have imagined.  He saw my girls in a way I could not, and then showed me all I had been missing.  To Scott for finding our musician’s voices, cultivating them with love and care, and always trying to give what he could, and most importantly to Erin and to Jacob.  Erin who is the heart of my words, the music of my mind- she took my very soul and set it to music, it is a gift I never imagined I could ever find.  And to Jacob.  Jacob who in a very short span on time has given to me a little family when I am away from my own.  His part in my life extends so far beyond the direction of the staging of this show that it must be stated that there would be no Serpent without him.  Hours and hours and hours together doing everything that no one else thought to do or cared to do.  Never once a harsh word.  My teammate, my best friend. He could see it all, everything that I wished for, and he made it come true.  His beautiful set.  His lyrical staging.  All of it with a humility and modesty that he saved especially for me in our slow rides home after everyone else was long parted.  The thanks could go on and on, each wave of gratitude more earnest than the next.

My heart is also so grateful for every one of my friends who came to see the show.  I know I am involved in a lot of shows, and seeing them isn’t always easy, but this is, I believe, one of the most exciting things that has ever happened to me, and to know so many people loved and cared about me, it makes it even more miraculous.  Thank you Leslie, Jeremy, Kyle, Joanna, Rachel, Robyn, Steve, Joe, Christa, Steven, Robyn, Mark,  Jen, Kathryn, Annie, Jason, Sharlene, Dan, Jo, Kacee, KMac, Tom, Jordan, Roger, Leif (!), Jason and Dad for all of your journeys to pilgrimage love for me.  I hardly feel I am worth it, and love you all the more for it.

I want to be a writer with all of my heart and soul.  I want people to know that living inside me is a world of beauty that could never hope to reflect itself in what they could see from the outside.  For the first time in my life, when I saw them up there, singing my words, I felt beautiful.  More beautiful than cosmetics, or clothes, or diets could ever make me.  I felt like the biggest part of me, the part of me that I love the most, was there for all to see, finally.  I’ve never felt so real.  I cannot say it better or with more finesse.  I suppose that when it comes to me, I am still just that much more a fool whose words don’t fit together.

I’m so exhausted, deeply to my bones I am aching with the fatigue that comes when you know a show is at its end.  Tomorrow we travel down to Providence to meet with some men who run a production company who specializes in Kung Fu movies.  They might be interested in making a film out of our humble piece.  If that were to happen, I don’t know what I would do with myself.  It’s more than I ever dared to hope for and am completely unprepared.   This could be it.  Our chance.

Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.  From the bottom of my heart. You’ve helped me to fulfill my dream.  I am so grateful.

Ever Virgin.

I did it.  30 poems for 30 days.  It became so habitual that I just turned on the computer with the express intention of writing my nightly poem before I realized it wasn’t necessary.  I mean, I am still going to try to write on a regular basis, daily, even, if possible, but it was really comforting to be able to know exactly what my responsibilities were with regard to writing before I even got to the blog page.  Some important things to know about the month of May:

1. The opera is coming up next week.  I’m nervous and excited.  I have worked harder on this show than I have ever worked on a show outside of Stonehill before.  I am waking up in 5 hours to get to the wholesale flower market in time to buy lilys and sticks to make the rest of the props.  Then off to a morning rehearsal followed by making the puppet (at the Sagers no less) and then probably running more opera errands before falling into an exhausted sleep to get up for church, set load in, rehearsal and costume fittings.  Forget about an actual weekend!  I really hope everyone comes out to see it, so all my hard work will not be in vain.  www.juventasmusic.com for tickets.

2. I am back on the diet and exercise bandwagon after a brief roadblock of broken foot and opera business.  I am tempted to launch into more details, but honestly, who cares.  A diet is just that- a cutting out of things you love in favor of better health and happiness.  I could use a little more of both, so we’ll see how it goes.  Get thinner- take two!

3. I would like to go on a vacation to Aruba this fall- does anyone have any advice or potential good things to look out for in the world of vacationing to said island?  I need to start saving now, so when the time comes for us to book, I’ll be ready.

That’s all for now, my eyes are closing on me, so it must be sleepiface time!

Ever Virgin.

A little break from all the poetry (I hope you’re having as much fun as I am) to plug two very exciting theatre events that are on the way.

On April 24th at 7:00 p.m., allow yours truly to be your host, as Muzzy VanHorton, wealthy heiress and all around dish, in The f.U.D.G.E. Theatre Company’s first ever Murder Mystery dinner theatre!  It promises to be an awesome time- but tickets are ONLY available ahead of time!  You must get them soon because seats are going fast!  Get them here!

In early May, come out to the Cambridge YMCA Theater to see the premiere of my OPERA!  The Year of the Serpent was composed by Erin Huelskamp with libretto by ME!  We have an amazing, phenomenal, inspiring cast and a the best production team out there!  It’s going to be quite the amazing event.

Look how HOT I look in this head shot.

Showing:

May 7 – 9 at 8 pm and Sunday, May 10 at 3 pm
Purchase Tickets
The Cambridge Family YMCA Theatre
820 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA

Ever Virgin.