Cast

I began as a lonely second grade novelist. I scribbled character sketches on the backs of cafeteria napkins and drew plot outlines in crayon during art class. As I ventured through elementary school, through Transformers lunchboxes and kickball afternoon, I continued to pursue my love on a box that would hardly be called a computer today.

I knew even then about the written word's power, how it could undulate under you skin and possess you. In high school I discovered how much impact it could truly have. I began spending afternoons in the theater, catch Broadway matinees or the latest avant-garde fare downtown. There, I was transformed from a solitary writer confined to his imagination and his bedroom walls to a playwright and a director who could literally see his words and images borne before him.

One reason I chose "Kiss Me, Kate" is because it recognizes and celebrates the vitality of the theater. It shows the backstage trials and tribulations of an ensemble as the overcome individual conflicts to create a piece of living, breathing art. It acknowledges that theater is a dangerous medium, rife with missed cues, forgotten lines, and divas in our midst. But every obstacle that I encountered as a director only reminded me that I was luck to find such a creative and difficult arena in which to learn.

What means even more is the community I have found. With FYP, I have met the most talented, incomparable people whom I'm proud to call live long friends. From the cast to staff to pit to tech to artistic staff, I have nothing bug deep gratitude and wonder for all of the sacrifices, generosity, and incredible effort you have all put forward over the last four months. I hope all of you shared equally valuable experiences, because this show would be nowhere without the unparalleled FYP ensemble you form.

Special thanks to my family for all their unflinching support, Sam Nystrom, Mike Trimble, Albert Camus, Davin Rosborough, Arthur Miller, David Rogge, Doug Grissom, and Danny Drachsler. Finally, I would like to dedicate these performances to the city that awakened my senses and taught me the essence of true love and theater, New York.

Danny Grinberg

I can't believe my last show with FYP is finally here. I have imagined this week since my first year. I can remember the Sunday night performance of Big River, for which I stage-managed. After the show, the forth years were sitting around crying, remembering their experiences with FYP. One of them said she wondered who among the first years would still be around for their forth year. Well, here we are. My time with First Year Players is almost over.

I have had the unique experience of being greatly involved in both the technical side and the artistic side of FYP. I started out solely in tech and now feel like I have a home everywhere in FYP. First Year Players has evolved from a collection of separate groups into one cohesive family. I am honored to have been a participant in such an amazing organization. Fort two weeks every semester, I move into the Student Activities Building. And it is there that I have found my family at UVA. We put so many hours into each show, and after a year of planning, a semester of rehearsals, and a week of frenzied building and painting, we have a show that we can be proud of.

Now it is my turn to wonder which of the current first years will be involved with FYP during their fourth. I hope that all of you will be. I have found a home in FYP, and I hope that you have too. Everyone in FYP should be extremely proud of all that you've accomplished. Each of you has contributed an integral part to this show and we could not have done it without you.

I cannot imagine my life without FYP. I never knew that most of what I learned in college would be outside of the classroom. I never knew that one group of people could change my so much. I am deeply honored to be your "Mom" and you will always be my family. I love you all so much!

Lisa Filemyr