The Cancellations, Part I

The cancellations started one at a time, with an email here and there.  And there was a cascade of cancellations, and subsequent disappointment, until every single activity was cancelled.  Every single one.   Which was strange, because these are kids that were very busy, and suddenly everything came to a screeching halt.  What I truly appreciate, though, was how the adults in my kids' lives supported them through all of this.

Finn's school play actually was not cancelled.  In fact, the students and directors, in an amazing feat of focus and community, were able to pull together a show for the school community.  I can't wait to see it!

I really appreciate what Steve and Katherine said about the students and the performance, so I copied it below the picture.

From the Directors - Shakespeare in Hollywood

"Weirdest. Tech Week. Ever.

On Thursday the 12th, at 3:40pm, we sat down with our cast and crew to let them know that our original performance plans would need to be cancelled. And, if we wanted a guarantee that the show would go on at all, our last option was to perform Shakespeare in Hollywood at noon on the 13th, just over 20 hours away. We had no lights. Our 20' x 10' mural was incomplete. Our costumes were incomplete. We'd only rehearsed one full run of the show, and were unequipped with the mental psych-up normally provided by five straight days of tech.

But these are VCS players we're talking about.

Immediately after our meeting adjourned, they got to work. Cast and crew members stayed late on Thursday -- some until 8pm, when we had to send them home. More appeared as early as 7am on Friday. Study halls, lunches, and sleep were sacrificed, voluntarily, en masse (seriously, there was no discussion, they just did it). And at noon on Friday, our actors put on an incredible show for the students' and faculty's last afternoon on campus.

We've never seen anything like it. The resilience, camaraderie, good cheer and seamless cooperation your kids showed in this trying time was something we will never forget (I know I'm using too many italics; trust me, they're necessary).

To our students: we could not possibly be more proud. What you did here for yourselves and for each other goes beyond anything we could ever expect of you, and even though nothing went according to plan (what ever does in theatre?), we hope you look back on this season with fondness, remembering just how much you were able to do with so little time, when you all came together.

To our community: yes, we do have the performance on tape. We'll be holding onto it for a bit just in case we return to school with enough time to put on the full production for you. If and when it appears that will not be possible, we will share it with all of you digitally.

Either way and in any form, we know you'll love it when you see it.

All the best,
Steve & Katherine"