The End(?)

It hit me today. The tour is really over. I mean, I realized it last night. I knew that there were no more shows after last night's show. I even had flashbacks during Turn Back to when we first started practicing (it being the first song we learned choreography to and all), but today when I was home eating lunch with my family, I felt a little odd. Of all the people I had gotten used to seeing day in and day out during the tour, not one of them was there. It was just weird. I'll see most of them in a couple of weeks or less, but it won't be in the same setting. I'll be in the radio studio doing what I do, watching them through the window there doing what they do (which is running up and down that hallway like mad people all hours of the day and night). The only people I won't really see anymore are Kristen and Josh, who I wish the best of luck to in everything. I'll miss you guys.

The tour had its ups and downs, but it was amazing. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad it is over. Theatre is a hobby for me, not a passion. I'm glad to get back to what I am passionate about, but I'll miss everyone I spent the summer with. It was a second family to me.

So Godspell ends for the third (and final?) time. I am glad I was able to take part in it.

Thanks to everyone who let me stay in there homes, to everyone who prepared meals for all of us, and to (In no special order) Matthias (I'm glad I made a Joss fan of you), Phil(even though you always tried to take inches from me in our seat :-)), Alicia (Good seed... GOOD SEED!!!), Nate (You are never going to watch that last episode are you? Your still a good guy.), Bethany (Remember when you were basically one of the guys? Good times), Andrew (I'm glad I got to serenade you before every show), Patrick H. (We both love EWJ. Nuff said), Lindsay (sooooo weird:-)), Pat I. (Might as... well ;-)), Kristen (Thank you so much for introducing me to the no voice), Peter (Your face when playing Betrayal at House on the Hill was priceless... EVERY TIME), Rebekah (Is it even possible for you to be negative? I doubt it), Reuter (Watch out for veloci-reuter), Ted (next time you climb to the summit of knowledge or drink from the well of the moon, take me along), and Josh (Someday you might be as good as me in Mario Kart. Maybe).

Thanks for the great summer everyone.
God Bless,
Eric

Hindsight

There are so many things I want to say. I just don't know how.

So, tonight we did our last show together. It's a strange feeling...having done this before, I recognize it, but cannot really place it. It's bittersweet. I'm relieved that I'll have some time to relax, but sad that our season has ended.

I am usually reflective after chapters of my life are done.

It occurs to me that we often, as a group, talked about things that frustrated us on tour. Sometimes, being with the same 15 people all summer breeds negativity. In reflecting on this, I wonder, did we lose our focus?

Despite performing a show based on scripture, it still "gets old" after a while. Despite our finest efforts to keep the show alive within our group, it's hard to keep the same energy all the time every night, every day...day in...day out.

Now, I can safely say that I have officially performed "Godspell" at least 86 times. Wow...

I know that this is rambling, but it's going somewhere, promise.

Anyway, all of this is to say that we've had our hard moments on this tour. It's inevitable...expected. But despite all of these moments...I know that our tour was a success. If anyone was ever touched by the message, laughed at a joke, or cringed at Matthias being crucified...we were used for something good. I hope that we each learned something important about ourselves and one-another.

This show is more than a silly play off the Gospel of Matthew. We've been saying that all summer...but do we really get it?

I hope that we always remember that Godspell is a place where community is formed...not of obligation, but desire...of excitement.

Godspell is a place where the line between audience and actor is blurred a little.

Godspell is a place where you choose to love, even though it is easier to hate.

Godspell is a place where you serve because a Great God served you first.

Godspell is a place where you smile genuinely and laugh often.

Godspell is a place where you can learn willingly.

And most of all, Godspell is a place where even the worst of sinners can find hope and forgiveness.

To Godspell 2008, thank you for the memories. I will cherish our bond. You mean a whole lot to me. I know that in 24 hours, I'll be going through withdrawal from not seeing you. You may not have known it, but each and every one of you gave me energy and life to make it through the last few months. Know that each of you is very special, talented, and capable of making BIG changes wherever you go.

I love you so very much.

And I love, love, love your work.

Godspeed,
Patrick

I was helping Lindsay carry some boxes to her car tonight and on the way back into my apartment I ran into Pat Harding. I gave him a big bear hug (because he won't accept any less) and I found myself wanting to cry. I quickly pushed back the tears by reminding myself that I would see him in less than two weeks. In fact, I'll see almost everyone in less than two weeks... so why the tears?

Because I know that sometime within the next few days I'm not going to wake up and see everyone looking like zombies. I'm not going to ride in a crowded bus to some random church. I'm not going to hear to Lindsay's laugh or Kristen's voices. I'm not going to bicker with Phil about setting up or bug Matthias while he is trying to work. I'm not going to listen to "Texas Ranger John McBride" or whatever that song was called and get to see Teddy do a crazy dance. I'm not going to explore a church with Eric hoping to find a TV with a DVD player (and maybe comfortable sofas) so we can watch Buffy during our down time...

There are too many memories to put into this blog...

But I will always remember the family we created, the friendships we gained, the inside jokes we stumbled upon, the hours of Mario Cart, and the stupid GPS system...

I love you all.

~Bethany~

Hitchhikers and Extraterrestrials

So this past Thursday, our bus broke down on the way to Logansport and this guy offered to help. I think his name was Angel Clare (no correlation to Thomas Hardy's fictional character). He said something was wrong with our hibbledy-bop or whatever (I know nothing of buses) and opened the hood up. Now, I'm not sure what he did, but I think he installed some sort of rocket engine on the bus, because the next thing I knew we were in a galaxy far far away. This wasn't good, for you see, we had a show to do that day, and time was of the essence since our bus had broken down as it often does. (I'm still not sure how we made it the first leg of the tour with no engine). I can't remember the name of the planet on which we landed, but we met these strange creatures with 15 mouths. It's not that I didn't like them, they were very hospitable, there was a kindly one who had us over for tea and we played bridge for awhile but we couldn't stay. The entire town of Logansport was waiting for us. So I decided That I was getting extremely bored with this preposterous story, so long story short, we were teleported there and our bus was magically fixed.
P.S. The tea was good.

This story is dedicated to the awesomely awesomest person on earth, Kylie Edmonds. She's actually so awesome, I'm not even sure she's human.


But on the serious side of things:
We have five shows left. I'll miss it. A lot. It's been a good second year.

Some things I'll remember off the top of my head (I'm not ususally one for lists, but oh well):

Awkward Spinal Tap references
brick walls
Phil's southern accent
Fubby the Fampire Fayer
Alternate lyrics to "the fox"
Making Patrick's eyes bulge when I was dressed as "Fyoon"

There's a ton more, but I really don't feel like typing a whole lot more, making up ridiculous stories wears me out.

Love
Theodoros

P.S. Notice that there's no comma after "love". That's because it's a command. LOVE ME!
I crack myself up.