Well, this is the end. Which sounds a lot more ominous than it actually is.

After being graciously asked by ye olde directore to post a wrap-up…I’m posting a wrap-up. A loquacious wrap-up. Because little miss obedience does what she’s told to. And anyway, I’m just filling in for Anne, who’s still off on her honeymoon with Fenton somewhere in Europe. I think. So, what a year! Even though we didn’t have as much casting difficulty as previous experiences have yielded, I can’t say it was totally easy. We had our ups (like those beautiful moments when someone realises they said something completely dirty that Shakespare just "slipped" into the script) and our downs (set pieces defying 60-pound bags of sand in order to topple onto the stage), sure. But we did it! This was definitely the most diverse cast I, and I’m sure most others, have ever worked with. From the adorable serving-children to that old guy who played Evans, we were just one big melting pot of thespionage. (Get it? It’s a pun on ‘thespian’ and ‘espionage!’ AWESOME. I just made all us theatre nerds sound like SPIES. Mwahaha.)

To be honest, I’ve learned a lot from this experience. Let’s see how much I’ve learned, shall we? 1. No matter how much someone says they can’t learn their lines, if you drill it into their skulls for two hours every day, and make them work, it actually pans out sometimes. 2. Wind sucks. 3. Never underestimate wind, because at the best, it knocks your set over, and at worst, it kills people. Thankfully, no one’s dead. 4. Being late is not good. Don’t be late. 5. One should always have an open mind about doing crazy stuff. 6. If you leave stinky clothes in a basket, unwashed, for three days, and want to take them out, bring body spray and noseplugs. LOTS of noseplugs. 7. If you ask someone to get you a pony every day for two weeks, they will probably get you one just to shut you up. (Thanks Grandpa!!) Note: this also works when you ask your graphic design teacher for candy. But I digress.

Everyone put a TON of work into this show. It’s kind of miraculous. Nikki was a FANTABULOUS director and managed to keep cool even when stuff wasn’t going *perfect*…if you know what I mean. And our stage-managing crew were some of my favorite people EVAR. It’s a lotta work, but man, guys, I LOVE YOU FOR IT! And so does everyone else. The costumes were great, we actually had a set that you couldn’t see through, and everyone was just so freaking amazing. This cast was full of people that would do anything for each other. There was a lotta love by the end, and a lot more tears of "NOOO I’LL NEVER SEE YOU AGAIN" but hopefully that won’t be the case. I’m proud to say I knew every one of you.

NEXT YEAR! All’s Well That Ends Well! Somehow, the name of that play just sounds like a bad idea. I’ma be knocking on wood every day until the curtain closes for good. The metaphorical curtain, I mean, because putting a curtain on the bandshell is like putting a giraffe in an apartment building. It just. Doesn’t. Work. Hopefully all will be well that will end well, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see. Will YOU be part of the cast? Yeah, I hope so too. And for your sake, I really hope I’ll have forgotten my Taming of the Shrew monologue by then. But that won’t happen. Sorry in advance.

Final thoughts? THIS WAS BALLER! (That means awesome, for those who don’t know.) I ended up having wicked fun this year. And that Shakespearean potluck was de-lishh. For real. Thanks to everyone who has been, is, and ever will be involved with Shakespeare in the Park. When this turns gigantic, remember me when my name’s in lights! (And if you ever see me living in a box in New York [which is much more likely]…I accept Visa, AmEx, and cash/check. Thanks.)

Until next time, whenever that time may be…

-Katieeeee.