With the new year just around the corner, we want to take a moment to reflect on the year we’re leaving behind. We checked in with some of Encore’s staff members to learn more about their favorite moments of 2018.
Aileen Pangan Christian, Director of Marketing and Design: I have two:
Watching the Lioness hunt in The Lion King, I thought it was a beautiful number and our cast was amazing! The music was tense and the very last moment of the number was powerful; it took my breath away!
I love seeing the front of house crew work well together and bring their acting/theatre skills to the lobby when they greet our patrons. There was a particular moment at Sherlock Holmes when our crew started a takeover on Instagram, and they were fabulous! One of our crew members said “This is the best front of house crew ever!” It melted my heart!
Sara Duke, Executive Director: One of my favorite memories of 2018 was working on Peter Pan Jr. at our Stage Door Summer camp in July. The wonderful students and staff made every day so much fun. I especially recall the hard work we put in to the “Fly to Your Heart” song/dance that transports the audience from the nursery to Neverland. It was beautiful to see it all come together on opening night!
Madaline Langston, Education Programs Manager: Every production, class, activity, and participant is uniquely different. It is challenging for me to find one moment that stands out over all the wonderful moments of 2018. In Jingle ARRGH the Way, I saw past Camp Aides, camp participants, and Education volunteers rise to another level of professionalism. I marveled at their growth and look forward to all that is to come in the future.
Halloween 2018
Shannon McCarthy, Registrar: My Encore highlight for 2018 is definitely joining the full-time staff as the Registrar. I learned so much from these awesome people during my Apprenticeship, so I’m thrilled that I get to work side by side with them every day. And, obviously, we know how to have some fun!
Rebecca Pfeil, Production Manager: This summer I stage managed Seussical. I mentioned to cast member A.K. that I loved how during the final number she made a point of waving specifically at the youngest audience members. During the final performance, she bent down and then looked directly up at the booth to wave to me. I really love Seussical as a show and that moment made the final performance even more special.
Susan Keady, Artistic Director: My favorite thing this year – the entire run of Lion King, but especially the first song. I have waited to direct the show for a long time, but this year we had the perfect staff, admin, creative team, crew and amazing cast in place. They worked from October through February to opening night to make the show perfect and it was. The performance of that song will always stand out as a favorite moment in my career. Plus, we sold out an 800 seat house – always a bonus to have an artistic and financial success for Encore.
Caolan Eder, Arts Apprentice: I always love when kids find creative solutions to a problem. Some of my students this year were passionate about martial arts and wanted to do a skit that featured stage combat, but I told them we didn’t have time to work out safe fight choreography. I expected them to replace the fight with verbal sparring, but instead they came up with this great sequence of magical “attacks” where no one could actually get hurt – a bit like Star Wars force battle meets wizard duel. Not the solution I was thinking of, but it worked!
Rosemarie O’Connor, Development Associate: I remember coming to see the closing performance of Lion King and being so inspired by the kids as they came in during “Circle of Life”. It showed off their hard work and collaboration in such a clear light.
Alana Gibson, Arts Apprentice: My Encore highlight of the year would be starting my apprenticeship! I’ve been very blessed and lucky to get a job in my field straight out of college because a lot of people don’t really get that chance. The amount of skills I’ve learned within the almost four months being here have been great learning experiences and I’m sure that I’ll use them forever! Happy New Year!!
With that, we wave goodbye to 2018 and all of the magical moments it gave us. We can’t wait to see what 2019 has in store for all of our participants, students, staff, volunteers, and extended Encore family. Have a safe and happy holiday break from all of us here at Encore Stage & Studio!
Photos by Larry McClemons, Aileen Pangan Christian, Connie Polnow, and Cindy Kane Photography. Blog contribution by Shannon McCarthy with thanks to the entire Encore staff.