Katherine Nicolai

And I thought about the very first time I saw a play. My mother had taken me when I might have been in second or third grade. I know the play well now. In fact, I've been in it twice since. but most of it had gone over my head that first night. The thing that had certainly registered was the electric feeling of watching live theater.

And I thought about the very first time I saw a play. My mother had taken me when I might have been in second or third grade. I know the play well now. In fact, I've been in it twice since. but most of it had gone over my head that first night. The thing that had certainly registered was the electric feeling of watching live theater.

And I thought about the very first time I saw a play. My mother had taken me when I might have been in second or third grade. I know the play well now. In fact, I've been in it twice since. but most of it had gone over my head that first night. The thing that had certainly registered was the electric feeling of watching live theater.

I just couldn't believe how it felt, how it looked, how different it was from a movie or show on TV. I remembered being mesmerized by being able to see the lead actress blink and breathe. I was close enough to hear every step and sound the cast made.

I just couldn't believe how it felt, how it looked, how different it was from a movie or show on TV. I remembered being mesmerized by being able to see the lead actress blink and breathe. I was close enough to hear every step and sound the cast made.

I just couldn't believe how it felt, how it looked, how different it was from a movie or show on TV. I remembered being mesmerized by being able to see the lead actress blink and breathe. I was close enough to hear every step and sound the cast made.

I carried the box of ready programs over to a tiny alcove beside the door and set them in there, ready for showtime, then walked through the aisles of seats to the third or fourth row and scooted along to the middle seat. I pressed the seat down behind me and sat. This might be the very spot I'd sat in for that first show. I leaned back and looked up at the ceiling.

I carried the box of ready programs over to a tiny alcove beside the door and set them in there, ready for showtime, then walked through the aisles of seats to the third or fourth row and scooted along to the middle seat. I pressed the seat down behind me and sat. This might be the very spot I'd sat in for that first show. I leaned back and looked up at the ceiling.

I carried the box of ready programs over to a tiny alcove beside the door and set them in there, ready for showtime, then walked through the aisles of seats to the third or fourth row and scooted along to the middle seat. I pressed the seat down behind me and sat. This might be the very spot I'd sat in for that first show. I leaned back and looked up at the ceiling.

It was high and dark, and I could just make out some of the light fixtures that, in a couple of hours, would flood the stage. and make the people sitting in these seats forget for a while about anything besides what they saw before them. I pushed up from the chair and headed down the row to the aisle. I walked to the back of the house, glancing through the rows as I went.

It was high and dark, and I could just make out some of the light fixtures that, in a couple of hours, would flood the stage. and make the people sitting in these seats forget for a while about anything besides what they saw before them. I pushed up from the chair and headed down the row to the aisle. I walked to the back of the house, glancing through the rows as I went.

It was high and dark, and I could just make out some of the light fixtures that, in a couple of hours, would flood the stage. and make the people sitting in these seats forget for a while about anything besides what they saw before them. I pushed up from the chair and headed down the row to the aisle. I walked to the back of the house, glancing through the rows as I went.

to see that all was clean and ready for our audience. And it was. I checked my watch. The cast would be here in a bit to start warming up and getting into costume. And I took a side door into the green room to see that it was ready. We always laid out a table of snacks and drinks, along with a bouquet of flowers for the cast and crew on opening night.

to see that all was clean and ready for our audience. And it was. I checked my watch. The cast would be here in a bit to start warming up and getting into costume. And I took a side door into the green room to see that it was ready. We always laid out a table of snacks and drinks, along with a bouquet of flowers for the cast and crew on opening night.

to see that all was clean and ready for our audience. And it was. I checked my watch. The cast would be here in a bit to start warming up and getting into costume. And I took a side door into the green room to see that it was ready. We always laid out a table of snacks and drinks, along with a bouquet of flowers for the cast and crew on opening night.

And I fussed with the roses for a few moments so that they showed well in their vase. I took a stack of napkins from a drawer and laid it out next to the crackers and nuts. The green room has a different energy from the house and certainly from the stage. It feels anticipatory, excited, but muted. I kept up my tour and next went to check the dressing rooms.

And I fussed with the roses for a few moments so that they showed well in their vase. I took a stack of napkins from a drawer and laid it out next to the crackers and nuts. The green room has a different energy from the house and certainly from the stage. It feels anticipatory, excited, but muted. I kept up my tour and next went to check the dressing rooms.

And I fussed with the roses for a few moments so that they showed well in their vase. I took a stack of napkins from a drawer and laid it out next to the crackers and nuts. The green room has a different energy from the house and certainly from the stage. It feels anticipatory, excited, but muted. I kept up my tour and next went to check the dressing rooms.

I flicked on the switch by the door and the big bulbs ringing each mirror lit up. The counters were clear and clean and I set out a couple boxes of tissues here and there. I twisted the knob on the speaker above the door. that let actors hear what was happening on stage so they wouldn't miss their cues and could make out a few voices and pacing feet.

I flicked on the switch by the door and the big bulbs ringing each mirror lit up. The counters were clear and clean and I set out a couple boxes of tissues here and there. I twisted the knob on the speaker above the door. that let actors hear what was happening on stage so they wouldn't miss their cues and could make out a few voices and pacing feet.