When you join a production show with strangers, the first thing you always do is compare notes on gigs, venues, and friends in common.

Within a few minutes of getting-to-know-you, you’ll discover that you’re also close friends with a stage manager who’s working halfway across the world, just barely missed one another on contracts at Radio City Music Hall, are working the same ships a few months later, and have horror stories working for that mid-range production company who shall not be named.

You’ll also trade gossip about industry news, talk about new shows you’ve just gotta see, and probably drink a box of wine while you’re at it.

You’ll also find out that one of the producers of the show was the IJA Juniors Competition gold medalist back in 1990.

One of my closest pals from my Totem days also happened to be in the Phoenix area while I was in town. She came to the show (and brought two of her technician friends from Cirque du Soleil along with her) and we reminisced about the last time we’d seen each other (backstage at Royal Albert Hall in January – not too shabby!) Paths cross again all the time – there’s no goodbye, there’s only see you… sometime.

The showbiz world is small, and the longer you stay in it, the smaller that world gets. I often feel that meeting new cast members on a production show is a lot like going to a family reunion and meeting second cousins you never knew you had. It’s nice to see your family grow.