I got to the theater every afternoon, prepping props and coordinating with lighting.
Always half-smiling through the buzz of excitement that this show brought in.
Outside the theater, the humdrum of bills and overdue emails seemed to chase me endlessly.
Making every moment here a brief escape yet a new source of stress.
The subtle power in this place rested with the director.
A cool presence who rarely raised their voice.
But they held everything in a grip of unspoken authority.
You could see it when they ignored questions or dismissed concerns with a slight glance.
They favored certain cast members, while others—like me—were expected to keep quiet.
And make things run smoothly, no matter what happened backstage.
