Happy Labour Day weekend!
During the month of August, we celebrated all of the staff members who have helped Carousel Players reach children and their families over the years. So, let me introduce you to our longest-serving staff member, our Accounts and Tour Manager.
Donna Vandecoevering
As I sit at my desk and realize that I am about to start my sixteenth year at Carousel Players, a movie of the past fifteen years plays in my mind. But then I guess when you work in live theatre, it should be a play and not a movie! So many wonderful performers and performances, too many to name but the database in my head reminds me of not only them but the behind the scenes talented people in production and administration. Thank you to all of you for bringing your best… your talent, integrity, honesty and grit to the theatre each day. My heart wants to name those of you who brought that extra special something to Carousel Players but I know we are kindred enough for you to know who you are.
Yes, you read that right. Sixteen years. And yes, Donna really is that thoughtful and caring.
She also has a quasi-encyclopedic knowledge of the schools we have visited over the years, of the teachers, principals and staff who have shared Carousel Players with their students, of the families that have been part of our family. I smiled when she talked about “the database in her head” because the irony of migrating our database this summer while not being able to download everything Donna knows onto a computer did not elude us, trust me. We couldn’t do it because her knowledge is (and forgive me for getting a little long-winded here) empathic and experiential. When you talk with Donna, you know she is really listening. And when you’ve been listening that way for that many years, you build up a real wealth of personal knowledge.
Every time someone has a crazy thought (and by someone I mean me), running it by Donna is never a bad idea. Not only can she tell you if and when said idea was tried before, but she is also a great touchstone on our values as an organization. Donna cares about our audiences, so she is always looking for the connection between the idea and the purpose of our work. She reminds the dreamer of why we do what we do.
Thanks for your dedication, Donna. Congratulations on your Sweet Sixteen at Carousel Players!
Pablo Felices-Luna
(Occasional Contriver of Crazy Thoughts)
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