I Got The Post-Show Blues [BLOG]

Weeks of rehearsals. Countless hours of studying dialog and songs. Developing a character that's on a piece of paper into a living, breathing human. Eight performances in front of appreciative and complimentary audiences. Then...just like that...it's over.

Well...that stinks. Now, I'm not really sure what to do with myself.

I've got Post-Show Depression. Before you ask if I'm just making up some goofy theatre term...No...It's a real thing that most actors experience once a show they love closes. And I LOVED 'Next To Normal.'

"Next To Normal' had a few things going for it that I had never had in a show before. It had a small cast of only six people, the songs carried the dialog and weren't just in there for a dance number, there were NO DANCE NUMBERS, the characters were carved out of real life, and the cast was exceptionally talented in every way. On top of that, one of the cast members, Aubrey Buckner, is someone whom I consider a daughter, and to be able to share this beautiful show with her was very special to me. Now that it's over, I don't get to see her put on a breathtaking performance while I proudly beam from the wings.

I've had it with other shows. 'Jesus Christ Superstar' was pretty hard to end because it was my first performance in almost two decades. 'The Little Mermaid' wasn't as hard just because it was a massive show that was just physically demanding...so I was kinda glad it was over from that standpoint. Sad it ended...glad it was done.

'N2N'...very hard. I could have done the show for another six months. Easily. I loved every minute I was in that theatre with those wonderful people who made up the cast, the band, the production team, the techies, all of them. They became my family, and I miss them terribly.

But I'll get over it...eventually. One day I will wake up and I won't have a song or scene stuck in my head. One day I won't think that I have rehearsal that day only to realize I don't.

The best way, they say, to get over Post-Show Depression is to sink yourself into another production...which I am about to do. You'll be able to see me playing Jean Shepherd in Stage Center's third production of 'A Christmas Story: The Musical' coming up at the end of November.

Until then...I'm just gonna listen to the 'Next To Normal' soundtrack and eat ice cream.