With a record load out at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, MA, we were on the road for Vineland, NJ before 10pm. We had a five hour drive ahead of us and an early morning load in rushing at us. We really needed to make good time. We drove for almost four of the five hours, stopped in Hightstown, NJ around 2am, and checked into a hotel for a few hours sleep. We would be back on the road again by 7:00am to finish the drive to Vineland, NJ and the Guaracini Performing Arts Center. We arrived at the loading dock at 8:30am with a ready and able crew waiting to load us in.
In spite of how tired everyone was, we were all fairly alert! The day moved along well and the crew here was on top of their technical game. Tickets were selling very well and, with the exception of a handful, the show was practically sold out. By 3pm, we would be near capacity with an enthusiastic audience.
I have to confess, Sunday Matinee performances scare me a little. People are having a relaxing day. They enjoy a large lunch, make their way to the show, and then want to “sit and watch” rather than “actively engage.” This was not the case with this audience! Our volunteers were engaged and the audience was very responsive to every trick we performed. Afterwards, in the lobby, I had the chance to talk to many of them – listen to their favorite moment in the show, sign a few autographs, and take a few pictures. This “Sunday Matinee” was fantastic!
Now, we head home to Virginia for a few days….