It is hard to believe that almost two years have slipped away since I last performed with you. I can still vividly recall every inch of the auditorium and the awful blonde on the front of the stage.

My final performance with OHP was on November 12th, 2017. I was playing the clownish Cosmo Brown. That was almost two years ago. I was practically a different person then. A different performer with different skills. It's amazing what can change about a person in such a short amount of time.

In my time with OHP, we performed a beautiful selection of shows; some of Broadway's best! I played in the pit for Anything Goes and then transitioned onstage to perform as Bobby Child in Crazy for You. A few months passed, Hallie and Lizzie locked Mr. Miele in a dressing room, and then Grease happened. Danny Zuko made his appearance. Senior year rolls up and suddenly, I'm doing all the flips and tricks as Cosmo.

I was expecting to be very emotional as I took my final bow as Cosmo, but it was already in the works that we would produce Footloose in the spring. I held myself off from feeling those emotions because I knew that I could feel them a little later in the year.

It was a few months after the closing of Singin' that a lot of off-stage drama began in OHP. I have my own opinions on what happened, but that is neither here nor there. To make an incredibly long and complicated story short, Footloose was canceled far before it started.

These events left me with an incredibly bitter taste in my mouth. Selfishly, I felt cheated out of one last show with my peers. Because my time with OHP was so short, I think that I felt like I had been cheated out of one last hurrah with the family that I had found within the players. It felt like all compassion and empathy had left my town and that the world was upside down.

My director, Mr. Miele, was ousted from his position. Normally, a change in leadership is good, and at times necessary. Rarely would I oppose a new perspective for a group, however, this situation became immediately very personal. Friends were pitted against friends, relationships were tested, and unfortunately, many people got hurt.

While I doubt anyone intended for this situation to turn into the bloodbath that it ended up being, my heart aches sharply for all of the mess that was made. Nobody on either side of this issue was deserving of the treatment that they received. It doesn't help that the school district as a whole was shoved into political turmoil around the same time as this event. Things were not good in our little town of Scarborough.

All of these issues boiled up and left me with an acetous taste in my mouth. I was mad at OHP, my classmates, and everything. Because of this, I forgot or rather chose not to have a thankful heart. 99% of my time associated with OHP was marvelous. The singing, the dancing, the sweat, the tears, all of it. I have warm recollections of all of it. I have not given OHP all of the recognition that it deserves.

My time truly was wonderful. I made some of my closest friends from inside of this group. Charlotte taught me to see the sunshine in every situation. Lizzie taught me how to stand up for myself. Maggie taught me that it's fun to do the impossible. Hallie taught me how to think creatively and logically at the same time. Claire taught me to have opinions and to stand by them. Abe taught me to laugh at the stupid stuff. Thomas taught me to be snarky. Cora taught me to support myself as much as I try to support others. Liam and Brennan taught me to make 'em laugh.

Donna taught me to practice until I think I'm done and then practice some more. Sharon reminded me to get some sleep. Jonathan Miele taught me to keep smiling, to constantly make art, and to be a voice for people who are unable to speak.

To the Class of 2019, I wish you nothing but the best. I hope that each and every last one of you walks across that stage feeling proud of the leadership you put into this program. Take what you learned here in the Oak Hill Players and carry it out into the world. Remember what you learned. Remember to listen to yourself and your peers and to practice random acts of kindness. What goes around actually comes around, so it's in everyone's best interest to spread love and kindness. I hope that each and every one of you know that I am just a phone call away.

Some things to keep in mind -

1. Working and studying the marvelous thing that is the theater is invaluable. Never take it for granted.

2. Treat every single person with dignity, respect, and complete kindness. No one is better than you, but you are better than nobody.

3. Work as hard as you can. In the theatre industry, everyone is fighting for the same jobs. If you're not willing to give a role your 100%, there is someone waiting right behind you willing to give 110%.

4. Remember perspective. Will not booking that role still matter in a month? A year?

5. Be a thermostat, not a thermometer. Thermostats adjust the heat in a stuffy situation, thermometers simply rise to the heat. If you have the choice, choose to be the calm, cool, and collected party.

Thank you, OHP, for everything that you've taught me and, mostly, thanks for the home you gave me.

1-2-3, OHP.

Yours,

SL - '18