Where does the time go??? My last entry was almost a month ago. That's just crazy!!! And A LOT can happen in a month at the Fulton.

As I write this, the cast of Hello, Dolly! is beginning their second week of performances; Cinderella is rehearsed and ready to go this coming Saturday; the set for Dial M for Murder is underway and rehearsals for that show start in less than a month; contracts are in the mail for the cast of Annie and Nutcracker; our Fall Gala has already come and gone and we have technically just begun the season. Our staff is already tired!!!!

But what a staff it is!!!

It sort of amazing to me, when I actually take the time to think about it, that it takes so many people to pull off one show. So many patrons see a production at the theatre and just think it "happened" somehow. They don't ever realize all the months of planning, the hours of trying to figure something out (like the barricades in Les Miz) or even the actual rehearsal process.

I guess that's what I want the theme of this installment to be about. The collaboration of theatre. (Well, our theatre, anyway)

In our season brochure this year we have "pictures" that depict each show title. These are all live shots of "human" subjects in various "artistic" set ups. But we also included the "behind the scenes" photos of each one of the "photo shoots", We did it because we wanted to show our audiences the folks on our staff that they don't get to see. But they are present in everything our audience sees. From the Box Office to the Master Carpenter, every single employee of our theatre plays a vital part in the experience that a patron has when they come thru our doors. It may sound silly, but it's the truth. And I, for one, am so proud and appreciative of the folks that I now get to call colleagues.

I have always had an appreciation for the "artists". (The actors, musicians, designers etc..) But I can honestly tell you that I had very little awareness of the "artists in the offices". These tireless folks like our Human Resource and Marketing Departments, our financial wizards, Development and house staff, our box office and all other departments; they are all contributing to the total experience at our theatre. And most people don't even know they exist. (They are on the third floor of theatre where the general offices are.)

The Fulton wouldn't exist without them.

So, my kind readers, over the course of my next several blogs I would like to introduce you to these wonderful and very vital people and let you know what they do.

Now before you bail on me or think that this isn't very interesting (like who will win the sound editing award for the Oscars), please indulge me the opportunity to introduce you to these people. To truly know the Fulton you need to know them. You see, they are the constant. They are twenty four seven. The shows, the actors, the designers, they are the icing and the "guests", the temporary. You see my point.

So , first up will be my partner, Aaron Young. He is the Managing Director and he is the backbone of this theatre. There is no employee of the Fulton that is more involved in more areas and KNOWS THEM ALL, than he is. He is, quite frankly, the PERFECT person to start with.

So, until I gather up my dirt on Aaron, I hope you get to see Dolly and Cinderella. I am most proud of both of them.

See you in the Theatre!!!!

M