The Last Drama Banquet
As I’ve said here before, this is my son’s senior year of high school. With that comes a lot of “lasts.” One of those lasts happened over the weekend: his last end-of-the-year banquet for his drama club. He’s worked on seven of eight shows, even appearing on stage in three of those shows. He’s much happier back stage, moving set pieces or controlling sound. He’s even decided he’ll look into what the drama program at his chosen college is like.
It was fairly informal, but there was formal programming like inducting members into the school’s International Thespian Society troupe and senior awards/gifts, and the more light-hearted mock awards for various contributions each member had made throughout the year.
Everyone seemed to have a good time. The theater director facilitated the induction of new members, including my son, into the International Thespian Society. Other awards included earning his senior honor cord to wear at graduation, along with a copy of “Oh, The Places You’ll Go,” which was also read aloud by an emotional theater director sad to see her seniors go, but excited for what they’ll become.
It made me sad and proud as well. Even with his not-so-great experiences in middle school theater, high school theater was a different animal. He jumped in with both feet and got to do and experience so much more. He got to build and create, both physical sets and rich characters on stage. I’d pushed a little, knowing my own experiences and in the hopes he’d enjoy it in the same way I had. Part of that pushing was constantly reminding him freshman year when tryouts were and when the crew formation meeting was. He was resistant, and it was understandable, but I knew he’d have the time of his life. Spoiler alert: he did.
After his last show in early March, he reminisced a little about his favorite shows, his favorite characters, played by him or by his friends, the best sets – both physically to work with on stage and to build before the show. I know he’ll look back on these days with the same fondness I do my own, and am excited for his future in theater.
There are many more lasts coming up for him, including the last mass as an alter server and the last final exam of his high school career. But with the lasts come the firsts, and much like his first step as a child, this next first step will take him places he never thought possible.