At 25, and quickly advancing to an age beyond which I can no longer be trusted, I suddenly find myself questioning the whole premise of this organization. I mean, a theatre only for people between the ages of 14-25? Whose bright idea was that? How on Eartha Kitt are these little pipsqueaks going to carry on and run this operation next summer after I'm forced into retirement?!? But before I, in my megalomaniacal fit, actually utter the phrase "Après moi, le deluge!!", I remember another founding premise of Wildwood Summer Theatre: we've always called it a "Learning Theatre", and indeed, it has existed and flourished that way for over three decades, with or without me!
It's times like these that I have to think back to when I first joined WST.
As a college Freshman Music major at home for the summer, I was just looking
for a way to improve my sightreading and accompanying skills at the piano. Eight
summers later, with the practical experience WST affords I've learned much more.
In recent summers, as a twenty-something staff member, I have had the opportunity
to be on the teaching end of this learning theatre. Next year, others will inevitably
assume the role of teacher. Having watched many of my fellow company members,
of varying ages, grow as leaders and artists and people in this summer alone,
I know that future WST members will have a knowledgeable, talented, and charismatic
new generation of teachers from which to learn.
Each year with WST has offered a whole new set of lessons. For me, whether it
was how to successfully get my point across in board meeting discussions, or
learning the hard way what to do during a performance when the orchestra is
already halfway through a number but the dancers have yet to appear on stage;
they were all valuable tidbits I can use in the real world, to which I will
soon be returning full-time. Hopefully, by the end of this performance run,
I will be an expert in the art of patience… and saying goodbye.
But while I'm raking in all that good stuff, I hope we can pass a sweet treat
along to you, our beloved audience! We thank you for supporting us and the idea
of an all-youth learning theatre, crazy as it may be. We hope you enjoy watching
us do what we do best, in my opinion; brassy, irreverent comedies! So please
have fun with it, and come back and see us next year (I know I will!). Until
then, may everything you touch turn to Sugar!
Isabel Hernandez-Cata
...and Sugar makes 38!