Reflections on The Table

You don't always know what the purpose is for a piece of art when you begin making it. I certainly didn't know what would happen with the piece of art that became The Table. I just knew I had a story I wanted to tell and I got to turn it into a musical with two of my very best writer friends. What started in a little room in 2017 finally found it's way to a bigger room in 2024. I have no idea where it will go from here, but I sure hope there are other rooms in other places where this story can be told. We'll see. For now, I'm left with time to reflect on the process thus far and ponder the possibilities. 

Having my co-writers, Lee and Tony, and their wives (and a surprise guest) here for a couple of shows made the experience incredibly special, and the moments we spent together before and after the shows are my favorite kinds of moments. Having my kids join us and offer their enthusiastic support of our work made my mama's heart nearly burst. We made a conscious effort to celebrate the moment, but it didn't take long before we dove into evaluation mode, considering any changes that could make our show better. We'll be letting things simmer for a bit, then figure out next steps. I've had a few people ask if The Table will be a book and the answer is yes. I've been working on it for a while and was hoping to have it finished by the time the musical hit the stage. Didn't meet that deadline, but yes, it is coming. 

I've also been near tears a few times when I think of all the people it took to pull of this production. The production team, the cast, the crew, and all the volunteers who put in hundreds of hours doing things no one will ever see or know about, in order for a few hundred people to be entertained. I see it happen show after show at our community theater, but to have them put in all that effort for something you wrote is a kind of humbling I can't put into words. There will never be enough thank-you's to express my gratitude. 

One of the most gratifying things I've heard people after the show is, "I'm gonna start doing what Laura did, and have a group of friends over for dinner once a month." One of the most heartbreaking things I've heard after the show is, "I don't have friends like that in my life." If there is a truth I hope people leave with after seeing our show, it is how deep and widespread the need for connection is, and how easy it is to be the catalyst to help meet that need. We all live in a world of Eleanor Rigby's. And we can all be Laura's. 

My favorite thing about my job is the fact that I get to dream. I get to think up stories and songs and figure out a way to unleash them out into the world. Just last night, Lee and Tony and I were texting about the next story we want to tell. It's about...well... I can't tell you. But I'll say this....okay, I'd better not say anything. Yet. Ugh...I want to. But I can't. Just trust me, it will be worth the wait. 

There is usually a post-event dip for me, regardless of what the event is. A day or two of sadness over something being over. Sometimes even a time of wondering if I'll ever make any art worth sharing again. But in all honesty, I woke up today feeling more motivated than ever. There's a to-do list on my desk that makes me very happy. It is filled with a bunch of administrative work, which I almost always detest. But today that list is a reminder that I get to spend my days making art and helping others make their art. What a gift. And when you've walked the road I have for the past three years, even a to-do list filled with things you might not enjoy is a blessing you don't take for granted. I also get to have a meeting online with a friend and co-writer about a new project we're diving into, and later today I'll be sitting at someone's table drinking coffee and catching up, which feels fitting for this first, post-Table day. 

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