In no particular order:
Because you can do it anywhere. We are proving that this weekend with the Finnish Dinner Theater. All you really need is a place for an audience, a place for the actors, and you can be transported to three distinct worlds. All the way from a 1930′s house in Virginia, Minnesota, to a rural farm house in Finland in 1866.
Because you laugh. We are still giggling every night at things that made us laugh five weeks ago. That’s a good sign.
Because it’s fun. New discoveries every night, surrounded by good friends, what could be better than that?
The people. This area constantly surprises me with the wealth of talent. Go ahead and pick a script that you love, or write one. The roles will be filled with the right people. It just seems to have a way of working out that way. Our local actors, especially the ones I have been privileged to work with at UWS, are every bit as creative, hard-working and professional, as anyone in the Cities or other markets. Hands down.
The audience. Once the circuit is complete and the waves of laughter are washing over these actors and their antics, a real sense of accomplishment sets in.
The next project. There is always another performance, waiting in the wings, ready to be brought to life on an area stage.
I love it.
Amen.