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Somehow I think I have mysteriously fallen into the good graces of the forces that be in the world of the theater.

Thank you Universe.

Over the past several months I have been incredibly lucky to, through a combination of total happenstance, new affiliations and I think a little sheer dumb luck mixed with taking a chance on saying “yes!” the unknown, attend a series of developmental workshops for budding non-profit performance arts organizations covering everything from strategic planning to board development to marketing, as well as a two-day professional development conference/workshop for teaching artists with some pretty solid presenters cluing me in with a ton of helpful skills for being an arts educator.

Um, amazing.

I’ve been privy to not only a phenomenal wealth of resources, knowledge, and insight from professionals in our craft, but also to brainstorming and sharing passion, ideas, and the same breathing space with roomfuls of highly talented professional artists from every disciple who work for truly inspiring arts organizations in the greater Cincinnati area. All that talent and artsy-ness in one room is so freaking awesome that it’s practically paralyzing – and to imagine that I’m there and I’m actually a part of it! Sometimes I take a step back and wonder how my life evolved from some pretty humble theatrical beginnings to the point where I’m sharing a rehearsal with some of the most generous and talented theater folk I can think of and if I’m even qualified to be here. But there isn’t room for second guessing. I’m here and I’ve worked hard and I’m going to jump in running.

As if that weren’t enough I’ve gleamed information about upcoming things going on in the arts world that hasn’t been necessarily made public yet. It’s pretty crazy/cool to have the heads up on stuff like this when only six short months ago I was a newbie to the area and involved with not a single arts organization in Cincy and was desperately looking for my in. Looks like I found it!

Furthermore, I’ve been blessed to, again somehow, be selected to become a member of two fantastic performance-based organizations for this upcoming year. One I’ve been working with for about four months already and I think some really exciting new opportunities and milestones are in store for us this year! The other is quite a recent development, but boy am I stoked to be there! Holy Moly is this organization a top name in Cincy/the nation at large and the place to be! The people I’ll be working with and learning from are just proving wonderful already, and the talent, innovation and creations that go on daily in that place are just so amazing that I leave at night feeling simultaneously engaged, inspired, full of joy, and totally overwhelmed by the artistry I get to witness and contribute to every day. I get to go to work and make art come alive.

In a word, breathtaking.

I’m finally back, and it feels good.