Opening Night

Opening Night.
Silently setting the stage,
The longest hour of my life begins.
The smell of makeup on anxious bodies,
The preparation,
The excitement,
Permeates every corner of the building.
“Fifteen minutes!”

Thank you fifteen minutes.
One last prop check,
Chairs rustle like leaves in the wind as the audience filters in.
Christmas music plays gently in the background.
The hum,
The bustle,
Fills the actors with energy.
“Five minutes!”

Thank you five minutes.
Start to quiet down.
Like a swarm of bees returning to the hive,
The actors make their way to their first entrances.
The high-fives,
The thumbs up,
Encourages everyone.
“Places!”

The show begins!