Terri Janney makes us cry... but in a good way!

So we finish our food, and casually make our way into the theatre. It's pretty impressively packed with people. It's nice to know that so many people came to the reunion itself.


Director Fred with Bryon, Lauren, and Jenny--> right before we all go into see the show.


Slowly filing in... we're waiting to get in trouble for bringing wine into the show, but the punishment never happens. Incidentally, the real problem comes from drinking wine in a building that has been without air conditioning for hours and then sitting in the dark. Yikes!


But before that happened, we all managed to sit and act like grownups. The room was filled with all of us chatting away and figuring out plans for the rest of the night/weekend.


And then Terri started talking. At first, it was your basic list of thank yous, recognizing those who were involved. She reminded all of us how to find your light on stage. (Walk until your face feels warm, then stop.) And then she started talking about all of us. She told us all how proud she was of all of us... then recognized all the people who had traveled far to be there. She talked about Ronnie Cruz starring in Pirates of the Caribbean, and made all of her New York City Alumni stand up. Then she got choked up and talked about how we were all her children and that she was so happy to have us back again. Well. Not a freaking dry eye in the house. We're all wiping away are tears, and marveling at the fact that after all of these years, Terri can still make us cry. But this time in a different, more poignant way.

She finishes, the show starts, and we settle in for a two hour Gorelick comedy.

So, mucho apologies for taking so long to post. As you all know, it's hotter than the blazes of hell all over the country, and I just didn't feel like writing anything. But, the heat wave shall be breaking around midnight tonight, so I am feeling inspired. Inspired enough to at least tell you about the reception before the show.

This sexy picture is of Amber, Katie and I leaving the hotel on the way to the theatre. You may think that we look nice with these smiles on our faces, but, interestingly enough, it's the look one gets right before they die. You see, friends, Tracey Phillips was driving, and we were swerving all over the road at this point. We never thought we'd make it to the theatre. But we did.

Unfortunately, no one took my AWESOME idea to make the reception just like APO Brothers Dinner, with biscuits from Adrian, corn from Will, carrots from Byron and a Terri Janney potroast. Let's just keep that in mind for reunion 2009, okay? However, if we did have to have a catered meal, this was okay. They had some sort of chicken deliciousness that was way better than the famed Hammy's meatballs, and the desserts were so good, I considered stuffing a few of them down my dress so that I could have them for breakfast. Thankfully, good taste reigned supreme, and I stuffed no food in my clothes. I am SUCH a grown up.

And everyone was getting along famously.

And people managed to sober up after the Armadillo Grill craziness

And EVERYONE looked great.

Except for those who looked like they were on fire. Poor Katie and Eric. I hope that those burns will heal.

The thing that made this way more exciting than any Brother's Dinner or Hammy's night was the free flowing beer and wine. We were knocking them back with the force of a thousand gazelles, and when Amy Boiselle said "I need to go on a beer run" I was beaming with pride.

Above all, I really think that it needs to be recognized that EVERYONE picked right up where they left off. We all seemed glad to see each other again, and we were gossiping about those who weren't there. We are so catty. But fun, too.

They really did a great job with the reception, and I have to give the chicken and cookies double gold stars for tasty goodness. Well done catering company, well done.

Coming later today or sometime tomorrow: Terri Janney reduces all of us to tears!