5pm: The run through is completed and a few minor issues are sorted out. Confusion mounts over the pizza! Has it been delivered to the Fleming Campus in Cobourg? How many have been ordered? Will the languishing ETS crew survive another hour until it arrives? The Clara Hughes dinner is beginning to draw in some fancy people as our exhausted dancers and crew people try not to look too conspicuous in our track pants, toques, and sneakers.
6pm: Why are there people in the auditorium already? The show doesn't start for another 90 minutes! Looks like people are really excited for Clara Hughes' speech! What a great message she's bringing to so many people all across Canada. We're thrilled to be a part of such an important campaign. The pizza arrives! You've never seen pure happiness until you've seen a group of tired dancers dig in to a piece of double cheese.
7pm: Final meeting backstage. Rachel Bemrose gives a great speech to the dancers, thanking them for their hard work and dedication. We pump ourselves up and get ready to roll out! The organizers let us know that if the dancers want to hear Clara's speech, they can set up seats right in front of the stage! What an opportunity! AFA board member Brian Macdonald mentions that "It's awfully nice of Clara Hughes to open for us!"
7:30pm: Clara Hughes takes the stage to a standing ovation. She gives a fantastic speech about the 1000km she's already ridden, and the 11,000 left to go; her connection to Peterborough; the people she's met along the way; and the message that she's carrying. We're all in this together. This is Canada's Big Ride.
8pm: Lights down. The show begins. After months of dormancy, the dancers bring the show roaring back to life with crackling energy and passion. The crowd jumps to their feet before the curtain call begins.
9pm: Tear down begins. Dancers grab their costumes and head out. Glow tape is removed from the stage. Sarah Tye tells the crew about the audience members who didn't realize they couldn't stand in front of the spotlight during the performance. Spontaneous celebratory dance parties are had. Gear is stowed in vans and trucks, and we head back home, exhausted but triumphant. We couldn't be prouder of our performance and of being a part of Clara's Big Ride.
Erasing the Stigma returns to Showplace Performance Centre on May 15th, 2014. Special thanks to Kerri Davies of CMHA for her invaluable part in organizing this event and asking us to take part. We'll see you in May!
