What country, friends, is this?: The 'Packer Fans of Theatre'

A weekly blog from APT's Managing Director, Carrie Van Hallgren, as she experiences her inaugural summer at APT.

Last summer, during a meeting with some senior staff members, I asked each of them to tell me about his or her favorite APT moment. Production Stage Manager Evelyn Matten told me that her favorite APT moment happens every year, when actors new to APT first perform before an audience on the Hill. "I just love hearing from them afterwards, when they finally understand what is special about an APT audience. This audience listens like no other and no matter how much you prepare the actors for performing at APT, they won't believe it until they experience for themselves."

At the opening night party following the performance of The Merry Wives of Windsor, I asked Wigasi Brant, a rookie APT actor, if this was just hype. Do we brag too much about our audience? Are they really that special? "Yes," said Wigasi with grave sincerity. "They were amazing, supportive and along for the ride." Rob Doyle, a journeyman actor in his second year at APT, concurred. "I learned from this audience tonight," he said. "Their response to the play made me understand it better. And I've been working on it since April."

Brenda DeVita calls the APT audience the Packer fans of theater. They are serious about what they see. They are smart. They are opinionated. They are true stakeholders in the work of APT. And they are DEVOTED.

Case in point: the second preview of Merry Wives was beset by bad weather. A light to moderate rain fell throughout the first act. But the audience stayed. They came with their ponchos, their rain coats and their towels. No weather could distract those hearty souls from the play on stage. At intermission, they grabbed some coffee and hot chocolate and returned to their wet seats. Eavesdropping in between glances at the radar, I only heard one patron complain about the rain. All of the others were talking about the performance.

When the rain grew heavier and steadier right after intermission, we knew it was all over. Evelyn Matten, with over 20 years of rain call experience, announced that we were finished for the night. Damp and disappointed, the audience cleared the theater and headed down the Hill and back to their cars. But without a doubt, they will all be back. Those loyal audience members know that a rain out means a ticket exchange and a return to the Hill.