February 25th, 2018 – As the S.S. American docks into port, the curtain closes on The Marist Theatre Program and Marist College Club of Theatre Arts’ production of "Anything Goes," a heart-warming musical comedy originally written by P.G. Wodehouse & Guy Bolton and Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse, with music and lyrics by renowned American composer Cole Porter.

The cast boarded the S.S. American from the Nelly Goletti Theater under the direction of Matt Andrews with choreography by Louie Perez, musical direction by Dan Koch, and scenic design by Jim Steinmeyer, and set sail on a story of mistaken identity, friendship, and love.

After six weeks, 42 days, and countless hours of grueling rehearsal hours and immense dedication from a passionate and talented cast and crew, one short show week signifies the end of the process. Before I can blink, we are taking our final bow.

In high school, our director conducted a pre-show ritual in the moments before we walked on stage--we stood together in a circle and squeezed each other’s hands, passing our energy through our linking arms. I would look at my fellow cast members, colleagues, and performers and realize that I would never be on the same stage in the company of the same talent to perform the same show again.

In the last moments of “Anything Goes," the same concrete realization hits me. As we stand in our line, clenching each other’s hands, the energy is palpable, transferring from one beating heart to the next as we express our gratitude to the crowd of clapping hands before us. This is a bow for the audience, but then again, this is a bow to us and for us.

We say to one another--thank you for your stunning talent, your undying motivation, and your wondrous storytelling. Thank you for your understanding, your compassion, and your support. Thank you for your friendship, your kindness, and your humility. Without you, we would not have the music, the dancing or the magic. The stage is only a home because we play on it together. And together, we have our story.

“It was amazing to see everything come together so seamlessly. From choreography and blocking to the set, lights, sound, and costumes--this is one beautiful show. I am so grateful for all the friends (old and new) who I have become so close with throughout this process, and I am so proud of all the hard work they put into it.” – Julia

“The talent that surrounds me has inspired me to push myself and has helped me understand just how lucky I am to have this opportunity.” – Brielle

“My favorite part of this process has been having the seasoned performers take me under their wings and help me bloom! I have developed more confidence.” – Rianna

“The best experience I had in this process was being accepted into a brand new family and having everyone open their arms to make me feel welcome.” – Ryan

“My favorite part of the production process has been getting to know the upperclassmen. As a freshman, it is very important to be active so you become familiar with everyone and integrate with the campus community.” - Jackie

“Strike is the last real bonding time and it’s great because everyone is remembering certain moments from the whole process, from auditions to final dress. It’s fun to reminisce on the show as a whole with people you’ve spent a great amount of time with in the past three months.” – Melanie

“My favorite part of the production was how the people, process, and sheer dedication and passion of everyone involved has made me feel so much pride in being a Red Fox in ways that I have not experienced before.” - Josh

“I have never been a tap-dancer and I had every intention to not audition because I could not tap dance, but I was put into such a supportive community that it made the process of learning so much easier for me. I have learned that if I trust myself and the others around me, I can come to learn something in a short amount of time and feel happy and confident about the outcome.” – Grace

“I don’t think I’ve ever worked with people who are simultaneously so kind but also teach me so much. It’s been a privilege to watch the process, learn about how everyone manages to be so successful and hone their skills so beautifully, and to be accepted into a group of phenomenally talented yet humble people.” – Celeste