Dear Tech Crew,

What would we ever do without you? We actors like to think we're the most important part of the production but when it comes down to it, it's definitely you guys. We might be gaudy and loud and get to wear the pretty dresses and fancy makeup, but if it weren't for the costume designers and makeup crew we wouldn't even have those things. We might have beautiful speeches and flashy show tunes but if it weren't for the sound crew no one would hear them. We might get to experience the thunderous applause of a cheering audience, but without the box office crew, none of those people would be there. You are all the unsung heroes. You are more than technicians. You are the problem solvers, you are our therapists, you are timekeepers, you are the keepers of spike tape, and the ones who light our way in darkness.

You are the ones whom the audience never sees but appreciates anyway. You are the people who make us look good and you are the people who we simply cannot work without. The next time that an actor gets frustrated and complains to you about something petty just remember that we do that because we know we can trust you. We love you. The next time a cast member does something stupid, like forgets a major prop and then demands that you fix the problem, just remember that we turn to you because we know we can rely on you to save us and understand that accidents do happen in live theater. We could never possibly run a show without you. No matter what we put you through, remember that deep down we love you. After all, the audience thinks they're coming to the show to see the actors, but they're really coming to see what you've made us into.

Without you, we're just people on a stage doing everything we can to be someone we're not. It isn't until you give us our costumes that we become princesses. It isn't until you give us the lights that we become magical. It isn't until you give us the music that we become special. It isn't until you give us glow tape that we learn how to walk like adults! Without you all, we are just us. Thank you all for being so amazing and always putting up with our tantrums, diva moments, and (most importantly) for making us look (and feel) like stars.

Love,

An actress who could never live without you.