Burgundy’s Blog: Hold On To The Memories
“There’s glitter on the floor after the party”
In the Venn Diagram between theatre fans and Taylor Swift fans, I fall directly in the middle where the circles overlap. In her song “New Year’s Day,” she starts with, “There’s glitter on the floor after the party.”
(You might be wondering what this has to do with QCT’s year-end blog. Stick with me, I promise it will get there.)
Overall, I would describe the tone of the song as a sort of nostalgic melancholy that looks at the quieter parts of a relationship, the moments between the good times, some of which are difficult, but most of which just exist without fanfare, like quietly cleaning up after a party together. As we end our season, this feeling resonates with me.
With the tagline, “Make today worth remembering,” 2023 had a lot to live up to. From a centennial celebration to a season full of beloved titles, we promised a lot. We wanted to celebrate not only the organization but the community that built it and to create unforgettable experiences for all involved.
It’s been a truly incredible year. And as the curtain falls for our last show of the season, we are left with the glitter on the floor (only some of which is metaphorical). The party may be fleeting, but it’s the quieter every day that counts.
There is an unmatched emotion when the lights go down and the music starts, but my favorite parts are decidedly less glamorous. It is in the collaborative spaces where connections are made and we figure it out together. It is in rehearsal and production meetings, and in conversations among staff, board, volunteers, and patrons. It is in the stapling of flowers on set pieces and picking up programs that were left under the seats after a show.
In these small moments, we are creating something and working towards something that we love, together. Community is created and we live out our organizational values. In these moments, we show up for each other.
Months of hard work go into creating these beautiful spectacles, and then in what feels like the blink of an eye, it’s over. And while it’s all fleeting, its shadow remains through relationships, connections, and memories. The fact that it is fleeting is what makes it beautiful.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone that gave their time, talents, and treasure to make our 100th Anniversary a year worth remembering. As we look towards our 101st, I can’t wait to share more quiet moments with you. In the meantime, in the words of Taylor, “Hold on to the memories, they will hold on to you.”