And we return...

Hello all. Been a long time.

I apologize for the lack of of communication. Doing this show six times a week for 5 weeks has made a certain blogger very tired, and as much I love writing for you all, believe me when I say that at this point in the game, if I'm not performing or working, I am most likely sleeping (and therefore unfortunately not filling your lives with blog material).

So this is it. The final performances. This run has been blessed...we've had only ONE not sold out show, and that was a Saturday matinee. The reviews have all been great. Audiences are really responding well, talking to us actors at great length in the lobby of the theater and providing the most interesting topics of discussion at the talkbacks.

I don't know how many of you reading this are actors yourselves, and therefore know the difficulty of a long run, but honestly, the biggest challenge for me has been keeping it fresh. I didn't know what that challenge meant until this production...the longest run of a show I'd done previous to this was three weeks, and there IS a difference. By the end of Week 3, your body knows the ins and outs of the show so well that it is way too easy to check out for a second - physically present, but mentally on another planet. Even with this threat looming, we've been turning in solid shows every night. Things that have been helping me personally keep it together... and please let me know if your experiences have been the same:

1) Reminding myself of scene objectives right before I go on. It keeps me wanting something and from simply existing onstage, which is a problem that I think a lot of us run into from time to time.

2) Connections with fellow actors. Especially in "Ballad of Booth" with David Dacosta and "Ballad of Guiteau" with Jeff Mahoney. Those guys are pros; if I find myself going off, all I have to do is reconnect to their eyes and I'm zapped right back into it.

3) Reminding myself what a privilege it is to be doing this. When I get tired, I sometimes just go "Yo. You're performing in a major Sondheim musical for wonderful sold out houses with one of the best theater companies in Boston, and many of the founders happen to be your mentors. So many people would kill for this, and you need to do your best every time." That always gets me gunning.

And on that note, as this dream of a summer starts winding down, I would like to officially go on record and say that it has truly been an honor. This has been one of the best summers of my life, and I thank every one - my cast mates, crew mates, band mates and all at C1 for this experience. And you, dear blog readers, I thank you all for listening to the mad rantings of me and a few of my friends. I hope you enjoy the show, and that I talk to you in the future.

Thanks.
-Nik