#karenthequeenof2k16
That hashtag is a title the East Hampton high school cast gave me this year. LOL! It was my first time with them music directing for their production. No wonder I love them all dearly. I'm pretty sure they love me too. HAHA. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with them and now that the back-to-back productions at EHHS have come to an end, I'm blocking out that dreaded feeling where the blackhole sucks me into the abyss.
OK. That is overly dramatic. And, anyway I get to have a few of my top notch favorites for another week, over at the Bridgehampton School, as they are performing along with another cast in our BHS production of Little Shop of Horror's. Opens this weekend. (Eeeeek)
I've been super busy with my late-in-life youngish career as a music director. I seem to bounce from production to production these daze. I love it. I'm also exhausted, but that's a price I'm willing to pay. Surely, the open door has been given to me now, after raising a gazillion kids, to help me cross into this new phase of life where my kids are growing up into adulthood. My oldest is turning TWENTY FIVE in June!!! WHAT???!!!! I cherish these high school kids in my heart. However, my time is not only spent with high school student, but middle school, as well as adults. This coming year I have an opportunity to work with 4th graders on a show. I haven't yet accepted that offer as I write, and I wonder if that will not be quite as fun... I've worked with the younger age groups in week-long camps. I think that's more exhausting that what I'm doing now.
Every cast is different from the next. Every ending of a show has a different impact on me. Most times, I am halfway (or further) into the next show as one finishes up, so its a bit of a relief to be done with one to free up more time for the next. But as I sit here pondering about last year, when I juggled three shows which were all very dear to my heart, it was tough to come to the end of the 3rd one and have nothing to fill my schedule but catch-up work. Who wants to clean a house after coming to the end of a long run of shows. Uhh... NO THANK YOU!!!
You wanna know the hardest part for me? Its becoming friends and forming bonds with the cast and the directors and then having our forced meeting times end suddenly! All at once, the friends I've been spending 4-5 days a week for 2 months straight, have returned to their "normal" lives and the adjustment is tough. Or maybe just weird. (or sometimes the end of a torturous experience). Sure, we may try to reconnect. We may attempt to meet up for a get-together after a month, but it doesn't usually work out, or its not the same combination of people. We move on--and learn to live with the fact that the only time we may see each other again is at some other show where mutual friends performing.
I will miss this gang of kiddos and especially the 20+ graduating seniors!!!
And so,...
My loyal, royal subjects of EHHS, I bid thee farewell! Meet me on the other side. Don't throw away your shot! History has its eyes on you. Its quiet uptown.
Your Obedient Servant,
K (dot) Hoch
