PGSTT is a Family Affair by Traci Dougherty

I recently read an article on parent involvement in schools and found it interesting that one of the things great school have in common is a large amount of parent involvement.  Schools with high parent involvement have better test scores, higher GPA's and less behavior problems. This got me thinking about PGSTT and the great families I have met there over the years.

When I was in high school participating on stage didn't think much of the parents that were at the rehearsal everyday helping out, let alone the ones behind the scenes at home that I didn't ever see.  While I was having fun learning song and dance numbers these unsung theatre heroes were toiling away to make sure everything off and on stage ran smoothly.

When I found my way back to PGSTT in 2003 I learned very quickly that it doesn't matter how talented the cast or how wonderful the director without those parents the show is almost impossible to pull off.  Families help make costumes and props, build sets, sell adds, make baked goods, run concession stands, usher, sell tickets, design the program, organize backstage snacks, cast parties, after show dinners, help with hair and make up , play in the pit, work backstage, solicit donations and so much more. 

As performers we got all the glory, the applause, the spot light, the congratulatory flowers. What do these families get? They put in just as much time and energy (sometimes more). I can only speak for myself but I like to think most of those other people feel the same way. I love the thrill of watching a kid finally learn a difficult dance step, the excitement of trying a costume for the first time, the joy of curtain call on opening night when everything has finally come together.  I'm not even ashamed to admit it brings tears of pride to my eyes when they take that bow. I like to think that is what my parents felt when they were helping out back in the 90's.

More then 10 years later my mom and dad still help out behind the scenes, along with my sister, brother and even my brother's girlfriend have been down to High Point to help out. My family is not special we are just one in a line of many and when my family moves on one day there will be plenty more families to take our place, moms, dads, brothers, sisters, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles all working together for 43 years to make PGSTT great and I am proud my family gets to be one of them.