April 17

Opening Night

Today has been a little calmer than the past couple just trying to tie up some loose ends for the opening tonight. I have to run out in a couple of minutes and get a veggie tray for the actors and crew to munch on tonight before the show as a way to say thanks for all of the hard work. This morning was spent tyring to get our online newsletter put together. You can read it at the side of any of the MHT pages on our website. I worked in the theatre for a while today setting a couple of last minute changes to the lights and sound. I'm still not happy with a hiss out of one of our speakers that has to do with the computer running it. But I may have to live with it. I corrected some of it.

We had a locksmith in to change out several locks today that had keys out that had been lost or not returned. We do this about once every year or so. Many of our doors have combination codes on them and those are changed after each show.

Alexis noted today that we have 4 events on sale right now. Tuesdays with Morrie, Zink, Anything Goes and the Ultimate Derby Party. She spent part of the afternoon calling schools trying to work out schedules and payments for the Zink school matinees between each walk in customer or telephone call for Tuesday with Morrie tickets. Some of our school matinees for Zink didn't fill so we are trying to combine schools on other days to help us not have to get the kids in the cast out of school if we don't need to.

Over a year ago the MHT board brought in a consultant and it was agreed that our highest priority was to develop and coordinate our volunteers in a more effective manner. Long time Business Manager Marsha Cash was selected to take on this crucial role and given the title Volunteer Coordinator. Unfortunately she is still doing a tremendous amount of the work of the Business Manager as she tries to develop volunteer handbooks, documentation of hours and jobs and working with the rest of the staff to have us do a better job of using the skills that volunteers have. Today she spent working on contributions from membership donations, program ad sales, sponsor ship billing and benefits. Last night she was working with Jaimie Smith who brought in a button maker to make MHT buttons for all of the volunteers for the Lowertown Festival over Memorial day. Jaimie Smith has volunteered thousands of hours at MHT and is a prime example of someone who has made a difference here. Between all the other things Marsha worked on today she is also trying to get ushers for the shows this weekend. If you know of someone who would like to see the shows for free have them contact Marsha Cash. Marsha and I fill in when we don't have enough ushers.

Janice is hard at work on Zink costumes. April had 8 classes she taught in elementary schools today. Many of them were Kindergarten classes. I can always tell the night before what grade level April is teaching the next day. If our kitchen table is covered with little animal head bands she has Kindergarten classes. There were hundreds of hand-cut paper animal heads that had card stock sides stapled on along with lots of children's books to dramatize that April worked on last night.

I had a phone call from a church this afternoon needing help with a lighting problem in their sanctuary. We provide support for schools and churches with help for their programs.

Tonight is the big opening for Tuesdays with Morrie. We have about 2/3rds of the house sold and it should be a great opening. The adrenaline keeps you going until Sunday night when we all kind of collapse from the week of getting the show open.

Zink and Anything Goes are rehearsing tonight and Story Theatre is out on Tour. Break a Leg Tuesday with Morrie cast and crew!