Lights Up on Love: Finding Myself (and Her) at High Tide
Did you know that the key to finding love might just be challenging yourself to take on a new role in the theatre, particularly during The Rocky Horror Show? I’m not saying that everyone will have the same results, but for me, it sure did end up working out. In more than one way, High Tide Theatrical has helped me find fulfillment and love.
Something I never expected to be so enamored with was working backstage on a production. As it turns out, being behind the booth during a show turns out to be electric. You never really understand how much feeling and emotion goes into this element of the show until you take a seat at the board. A good show lives and breathes in the lights, sound, set, costumes, etc. as much as it does with the actors. One major reason that I loved stepping into the role of Stage Manager for The Rocky Horror Show was the way that I felt dropped into the world and connected to the story in a way that was totally different than I had ever experienced before. I knew the show inside and out and found myself focused on the production in a way that (as silly as it sounds) felt powerful and essential.
So, I guess the first way that I found love at High Tide was finding a new love for an old passion. When you grow up doing theatre, it can be very difficult to find a way to balance that into your adult life. High Tide is a way for me to incorporate my love for theatre back into my busy schedule and have that be done in a stress-free environment that supports its members finding new ways to do what they love. Even as someone who has found a career that I am passionate about, I still found myself longing for a connection to the Theatre community here in Springfield. I am so lucky to have found that here.
Bear with me for a moment now, folks, I am about to get just the tiniest bit cheesy. High Tide Theatrical has inspired me in a lot of different ways and has given me so much to be grateful for. One of the greatest gifts I’ve been given is that of my partner, Hadleigh. I don’t want to add cliches to the mixture (I mean, I already added cheese!), but I think that it really is true that love comes along when you least expect it.
Hadleigh was one of those people that I instantly knew that I liked. Her positivity in the rehearsal room, especially during times where it would’ve been easy to be frustrated, really stood out to me. She is also incredibly kind, supportive, and inclusive. Hadleigh has a way of making sure that no one gets left out of a conversation or spoken over. If you know anything about theatre people, I think that this is particularly impressive. Not that we aren’t welcoming, we are just… loud. Just know that her kindness and determination to be helpful and encouraging to others are parts of her personality that would win anyone (not just her future girlfriend) over.
As I reflect on our relationship, I find myself so very grateful that we met at High Tide. An important element of our relationship is our shared love for the theatre, and what the theatre can do for its community. There is something beautiful about being in a space where that idea is uplifted, encouraged, and pursued. How lucky am I to have someone by my side who not only understands my passions, but shares them? How lucky are we to have a community of friends and fellow artists that are accepting and welcoming?
I truly cannot imagine my life without either Hadleigh or High Tide, and I am so grateful that I don’t have to.
Mallory Maggi
Founding volunteer of High Tide Theatrical
