More Fantasticks

A Fantastick Show

My kudos go to all the students who made "The Fantasticks" a success. With all due respect to my former students, it was the most perfect show I have directed. I have thought a lot about this statement in the weeks since the show has ended. If something is perfect is it my favorite? Was the show perfect? Do we even want perfection? Every show I have directed has been a learning experience. Each succeeding show has benefited from what I learned from the previous. I have made mistakes. I have ruined moments. I have let things go that I should have fixed. But all of it has led to the quality show that was "The Fantasticks"
"Beauty and the Beast" taught me to take into account the confines of our space when designing a show. "Servant of Two Masters" taught me how to implement commedia in a show. "Pirates of Penzance" taught me no matter how funny a moment is, it must be focused to be successful. "Comedy of Errors" taught me that if the audience can't understand you, it's not funny. "Fiddler on the Roof" taught me to have faith in the abilities of my cast. "The Crucible" helped delve into character like I never had. "Joseph" taught me that even "fun" shows have messages. "Mother Courage" honed my ability to genuinely mix comedy and tragedy. (and puppets) "Henry V" showed me how to make the story arc from beginning to end. (and fighting with swords, lets not forget that) So with all that behind me, (and all the students as well) how could it not be the best?
Each show has had it's high points. Things that make it stand out in my memory as special. "The Fantasticks" is no different. I will remember it as the show that ran for longer than any show in PHS history. It is the show that gave McKenna Austin the chance to show what she could really do, and she did. It is the show with James, who took character at the high school level and pushed it to the stratosphere. It's the show where Steven and Brian stole the show and then gave it back when they're turn was over. It had Dexter look a cold in the face and say "You won't take this away from me!" It was a cast that could make an audience laugh till it hurt and then hurt till they cried. It's the show that we threw together in 6 weeks (musicals usually take 2-3 months) It is the show where my romantic lead broke his ankle and performed anyway. It's the show nobody saw but everybody loved. It's the show in which everyone came together and everything came together. It's the show that made me remember and follow.