"La Mancha" and "Wizard of Oz" Close

Fine show today at DMTC! People were uncharacteristically emotional about closing the show. Usually the cure is simple - audition for another show! - but people were particularly sentimental about this show. Byron Westlund's down-to-earth helpfulness really set the tone for the everyone's experience: friction was minimized everywhere as a result. After strike, the crew recovered at "Woodstock's," with (ugh!) cinnamon pizza, plus a cornucopia of other pizza-related foods.

Amber Jean Moore Lazard (and Juliette) were at the show today, along with Erin Jones (senior). Carrie Gifford was there as well!

Apparently I missed some watershed moments at DMTC by failing to see the Young Performer's Theater's (YPT's) "The Wizard of Oz." There was quite a buzz about the theater regarding what an excellent show it was, particularly Hailee Ketchum-Wiggin's performance as Dorothy. Hailee's performance has apparently raised the bar regarding what YPT auditioners must accomplish to gain a lead role. The competition was stiff already, and it keeps getting stiffer - it takes a lot of heart to reach for the lead roles!

As treasurer, I noticed how "The Wizard of Oz" was bringing in more money in walk-up tickets than "Man of La Mancha" was doing. Season tickets purchased long ago dominate much of the Main Stage ticket activity late in the season, so modest ticket sales are to be expected, but still, it's atypical to have the YPT ticket sales exceed the Main Stage ticket sales.

Regarding YPT scholarships, Paula Short will receive the DMTC Scholarship and Mark Carpenter will receive the Laura Wilson Memorial YPT Scholarship. Congratulations to them both! There is a lot of sentiment to expand the number of scholarships awarded, but right now, with New Theater still unfinished, I'm just glad that we were able to award scholarships. Maybe next year, we can expand our focus.