THE PENN STATE THESPIAN SOCIETY

MAIDS 2021: Love is Love. The journey to this night was a very interesting adventure. First of all, We had no idea what this show was going to turn out to be like. We were just two naïve sophomores in quarantine when we both got the phone call that we would have to create a massive production that encompasses hope and love. On top of this challenging task, we would have to create a fully online production that still dazzled the community of State College, PA. The first step was the theme. When deciding on a theme for MAIDS 2021, we wanted something that encompasses wellness and positive energy. This past year has not easy on anyone, and we wanted our theme to reflect the fact that someone is always in your corner, whether it be a friend, a family member, or a partner. Being on Valentine's Day, MAIDS 2021 exemplifies the importance of love and companionship even during the hardest of times. Our song choices further highlight the fact that love always prevails. As all shows go, this one was definitely a challenge this year with everything being virtual but we are incredibly honored and lucky to have such an amazing cast and crew. Through their generosity, dedication, and talent, this show has come alive right before our eyes. We are beyond excited for you to experience our first virtual MasquerAIDS.

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The next step was assembling our wonderful production staff. To our director Lizzy: directing an entirely online production with a cast of 50+ people, during a global pandemic, is no small task. Rising and conquering a challenge like this is unbelievable and a feat you should be more than proud of. Thank you for all your hard work, leadership, and determination. You are simply the best and we cannot wait to see all of the fantastic things you continue to accomplish every day.  To our amazing vocal director Kelly M: thank you for taking time out of your day to teach our cast intricate harmonies, beautiful melodies, and promote a positive and welcoming environment where people can express themselves through song. You continue to impress us each day with your ability to effectively communicate with cast and crew through platforms such as zoom and other online resources. To our lovely choreographer Noel: as a freshman who had never done MasquerAIDS before, we tasked you to create three unique numbers that dazzled the audience and were fun for both the audience and the cast. You did everything amazingly and we were so proud to watch you grow as a person and as a choreographer. Thank you for making dreams come true and creating a fun environment for everyone involved. To our EPIC technical director Kate, you are truly the mastermind behind this whole show. You took each twist and turn and turned it into something fun and interactive that audiences everywhere could enjoy. With your amazing talent and masterful editing skills, you have truly created a beautiful online cabaret. To our awesome music director Chloe: thank you for mixing and editing the entire audio piece of MAIDS 2021. This was a massive endeavor to conquer and you faced the challenge every single day with a smile on your face and a positive attitude. MAIDS 2021 would not have been possible without all of your hard work and dedication. Thank you. To our wonderful stage manager Eliza: Though you are definitely not a Schuyler sister, you are still amazing and were a huge part of the success of this production. Thank you for spending an unbelievable amount of time to ensure that everyone could attend rehearsals and the production staff remained organized throughout this intricate process. We are so thankful for your persistence and organization. We are excited to see you continue your Thespians career and see all the wonderful things you do at State. And last but not least our wonderful assistant producer - Kelly B, you have truly been there for us when we needed you most. You continue to inspire and motivate us to do our very best and we cannot wait to see what amazing challenge you conquer next. To our dedicated and diligent assistant production staff, thank you for all of your hard work and time that you put into this show. We are so proud of everything you all have accomplished. Finally, thank you to our stunning cast of MAIDS 2021: Love is Love, your dedication, talent, and continued love for this amazing cause has been exemplified through your performances tonight. 

We would also like to extend a special thanks to the wonderful organization for which we are all here today. The Centre County AIDS Resource Center has continued to provide guidance and services to the State College Community for many years. Thank you so much for your dedication and support to everyone affected with HIV/AIDS. A special thanks to Erik and the whole team at the Resource Center. 

To everyone here tonight, sit back and enjoy the show, and Happy Valentines Day! 

-Your friends in Thespis 

Andrew Lapiere and Alison Shifflett