matthes's blog

A Special Message From Tony Matthes August 24, 2011

Dear Thespian Boosters, Cast, Crew, Pit Musicians, Artistic Team, Edina Administration, Edina Staff, Edina Community and Theatre Supporters,

I want to say thanks to all of you who helped the Edina High School Thespians perform Anything Goes at the International Thespian Festival in June. A month has passed since our performance, and we were honored to represent Edina in front of 2300 audience members at the festival. It was an enormous undertaking, and with the incredible support we received, we could not miss. The production was so well received!

I remember the audience clapping, tapping their feet, and dancing to the Act 2 entr'acte in anticipation as they waited for Act 2 to begin. I remember hearing students from other schools asking their teachers on the way out of the theatre "why can't we do a show like that?"  

Some especially memorable moments for me are: 

  • Watching our student techies in a meeting with the professional staff at the Lied Center on our first day. Our tech students were very professional and the union crew at this professional theatre was quite impressed with their knowledge and abilities.
  • Seeing the kids make friends with others from all around the country.
  • Watching the Edina kids bond with all of the adult volunteers. The experience was so rewarding for both students and the staff and adults involved.
  • Watching 12 of our juniors audition for colleges. Every student received a call back from at least one college.
  • On the Friday before our performance watching the 53' truck pull in and the 80 or so family volunteers help unload the set while the rest of the cast, crew and pit rehearsed in a hotel banquet room.
  • The arrival of the student pit orchestra. This group of students also came on Friday and were so prepared! Edina was the only musical at the festival that used an entire student pit orchestra. All other schools either hired professionals, or had a recording.
  • Watching the entire ship being built and struck by parents, cast, crew, and even school administration. Doc Loc and Eric Nelson were a force! We had that set up in plenty of time.
  • Seeing the looks on our kids' faces as they received a spontaneous standing ovation from a crowd of 2300. Later at the dance and on campus, the kids were congratulated and affirmed by so many of the festival attendees.

Each crew was so organized. The parents and students were so prepared for every moment onstage and backstage. It was exciting! It was worthwhile! It was life changing according to many students.

An undertaking like this doesn't happen by accident. It takes an enormous commitment. It takes meticulous planning and hours of rehearsal. It takes all the right people in all the right places. It takes a community and district that not only shows support by coming to the shows, but also shows support by offering help and resources when asked.

It was our first main stage performance at the festival and I think we not only figured out all of the logistics, we also created a template for success. Many other main stage productions were impressed with our show, and want to compare notes, based on our success. On a personal note...Edina is a great place to belong. It is so refreshing to dream and then have it realized.   I knew we were main stage material for many years. I also knew it would be tough to accomplish. Every single person jumped on board to make this happen and for that I say...

Thank You!

Tony Matthes