Our theatre-wide holiday party was Sunday night. This qualifies as yet another event in which I was too engrossed in merriment to take even one singular picture. And what a shame too because there were quite a few moments I would have liked to capture and, for once, I was dressed up in something fancy (like wool skirt and sequins top with tights fancy!) and photo-worthy/presentable for the occasion. What a rarity for me to crawl out of my thermal waffle tops, cuddlduds, jeans, and flannel for even four hours during the winter – and we have no photographic proof of this monumental occurrence! I’d say this year’s party, though very well-received and incredibly well attended by staff, crew, one spectacular playwright, and all three casts in the building, was just ever so slightly less spectacular than last year’s hard-to-beat cornhole and karaoke, ugly sweater contest, and feuertzangenbowle (mulled wine firebowl) party.
That’s certainly not to say that it wasn’t a grand holiday party, because it really was. Picture this: The sky was a deep midnight blue and it was snowing big, white, soft, fluffy, picturesque, snow globe snowflakes outside, which was a simply beautiful backdrop to be seen through all the tall windows in the cafe, and there was warmth and light aplenty inside with a well-stocked bar of chilled wine and beer for all, about 120 friendly faces to cuddle up to, sparkly and evergreen Christmas decorations galore, a booming soundtrack of festive holiday music and laughter, nearly 50 excellent and exciting free raffle prizes in the form of gift certificates to places and events around Rochester up for grabs, sweet winetini and chocolate gifts for the company, casts, and crew, and a steaming hot buffet featuring a cheese sampler, salad, bread and butter, chicken French, eggplant parmesan, fresh vegetables, roasted red potatoes, carved beef brisket, and the most mind-blowing lobster and shrimp mac n’ cheese. It truly was our very own ‘Fezziwig party on Christmas Eve’. I may or may not have eaten my weight in lobster mac n’ cheese, for which I have no shame and feel no need to apologize.
I spent most of the night running around with a glass of sweet red wine, a plate of cheese, and a length of raffle tickets on my wrist, chatting up and enjoying the company of each and every person in attendance so I could make sure everyone was in possession of a prized raffle ticket. It was wonderful to have my husband and so many of my great friends and all-around lovely and talented co-workers all in one location, and the food and drink was divine!
I’m already dreaming up potential ideas to bring to the table for next year’s soiree – maybe some holiday/theatre/Geva/Rochester trivia, a DIY snow globe photo booth setup, a festive contest, more fun games, a merry playlist, the return of my feuertzangenbowle mulled wine, and more! Who says office parties have to be boring? And, really, theatre parties hardly ever lack personality to begin with. Maybe next year I’ll even remember to take a picture or two! ;)
Does your office host a holiday party? What is it like? Do you have any recommendations from your own office holiday parties of late to share?
