Chapter 10 Opening Night

Teri pulled into the almost empty parking lot of the theatre. It was three in the afternoon; the only people there were box office personnel and a couple of people working in the offices. She left her change of clothes in the car, and proceeded in the front door with her hands full of goodies from her favorite bakery, and a fresh box of Joe from the near-by Dunkin Donuts.

After she was buzzed in by a staffer who hit the security button which let her into the hub of the theatre, she deposited her food on a near-by table in the phone room, and found her way to the staff who were in since noon. Working on drawer balancing and box office duties the staff welcomed her warmly. A couple even kissed her when she announced the nourishment she brought in as they passed her on their way to grab something to eat and drink. Teri ALWAYS brought treats to the box office. They were one of the main reasons that the theatre existed.

Teri hopped on a stool in the small office, which housed four windows for patrons to purchase their tickets in the lobby and chatted with staff. At that moment, a rush happened. People purchasing tickets for other performances, and others there to pick up their tickets for that night. She opened the fourth window and helped with will-call ticket pick-ups to move the lines along. The Box Office Manager stopped in when she saw four windows open as she entered the theatre. She knew only three should be manned. When she saw Teri was at the last window, she smiled. Teri has been known to pitch in wherever needed. She was an all-around director who has worked her way up the food chain and knew how to sell a ticket or double check I.D. for a pick-up.

Once things calmed down, Teri and the Manager Nancy went into Nancy’s office to talk about numbers, on how tickets sales were doing. Nancy got a call from Susan at her home Friday. She kept the knowledge that Richie F’n Sambora was going to be in the house that night to herself. Susan didn’t tell her about Teri’s “relationship” with Richie, just that the Bon Jovi guitarist would be attending the event and a couple of the “Oh Shit” tickets were needed and not a word to Teri as Susan didn’t need her any more nervous about opening night having the knowledge he would be in attendance. Teri and the Manager always held tickets for just this reason.

Susan showed up with Teri’s clothes in hand. Teri, once again, forgot to lock her car doors. Susan smiled. She really had her hands full with this Director. She had worked for Teri for four years now, and knew what to look for, and what to do. It was a cushy job at times. They flew to L.A. first class about four to six times a year for meetings with their producer. Susan considered these trips mini ‘vacations’. There was always an extra couple of days built in to their schedule to compensate for the time difference. In actuality, it was to give both of them a little break from life so they could come back home refreshed and ready to start the next show. The Merry-go-round of every three to four months is a new show can get old quick if not broken up.

She stopped at Teri’s car on a hunch. Yup, she forgot to lock it again. Looking in the back, she saw Teri’s carry-on bag and her change of clothes on a hanger. The PC grabbed the clothes and with a firm hand and a grin, she closed and locked Teri’s car.

“Hey girl, got your crap, I’ll put it in your office.” Susan said as she greeted the two in Nancy’s office.

“Thanks Susan. Forgot to lock my car again huh?”

All three grinned at Teri’s forgetfulness it tends to be worse during hell week.

After Susan returned, they said goodbye to Nancy, then proceeded into the theatre hitting lights along the way in the dark house. The ghost light was on in the center of the stage, which only a stagehand could turn off. That’s fact. No one but official stagehands can touch a ghost light. It’s part of the contract. Stagehands are more superstitious than the rest. It was theatre folklore; the light was to help the ghosts see their way around the dark stage. Just like, you never say “Good Luck” as good luck was bad luck in the performing arts world. It’s always “Break a Leg.”

They sat in a couple of seats in the center of the audience and looked at the set. Teri’s mind was on the production ahead. Susan sat quietly. Her mind was on Richie. She still wondered if he had any single friends.

After a bit, Al joined the girls. This had become their “thing” a few years ago.  They would sit and look at the stage, and then Teri would turn to Al.

“This is the hardest part. Al, I am officially turning the show over to you. Take care of my baby.”

The show becomes the Stage Manager’s on opening night. Technically, the director sits back. Her job done. Not Teri though, she was always back stage helping out with this or that, and never seemed to get herself ready until AFTER the first act was up and running.

“As always.” Al said in return.

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Chaos, as only a theatre can produce reined extreme that evening. There were costume malfunctions, which needed addressing and sound system issues. All the norm for theatre. Teri along with everyone else was all over the place. Susan was right behind her, helping with whatever she could. The two were still in jeans as Al made his five minute call on the walkie-talkie to staff and yelled backstage to the cast in the dressing rooms.

“This is your five minute call, your five minute call. Please and thank you.” Al stated.

 He had known about the tickets Richie requested as Susan had called to ask if he had a couple of spares from his supply and wondered if Richie was in the house yet.

Later on closer to performance time, Al saw Richie in the lobby as they were on their way to their seats. Taken back by Richie being with another woman, he wasn’t sure what to say if anything, to Richie or Teri for that matter. After a quick hello to Richie, Al was introduced to his date Denise. Susan happened by as Al had moved on to the box office to see how close they were to ticket pickups so he would know if he had to hold the curtain. He saw Susan. Al grabbed her arm and pulled her out the front door faster than should be humanly possible. He peppered her with questions.

“What the hell is Richie Sambora doing here with another woman?"

"I thought he was with Teri."

" Did you tell her?"

" How can he do that?"

" Who is she?”

“Did you talk to him?” Susan asked.

“Yeah, he introduced her as Denise. That’s it. No explanation.”

“I don’t know Al. He told me not to let Teri know he’s here as he wanted to surprise her.”

“Oh, she’s gonna be surprised all right.”

With that, they both went back in through the stage door. They had walked around to the side to keep others from hearing their conversation. They entered the back stage area just in time to see Teri accept a huge bouquet of yellow and white roses from a stagehand. She had just opened the envelope when the pair walked over to her.

“Susan, hold these please while I get the card?” Teri asked as she handed over the huge two dozen rose bouquet.

She pulled out the card and read the note. A broad smile engulfed her face as she read.

Bright eyes,

Break a Leg tonight.

From what I saw you have a hit on your hands.

Richie

“He remembered.” Teri said with a soft smile as she ran a finger over the words on the card.

“Of course he remembered! He left your place a day ago.” Susan replied a little huffy.  

She had read the card over Teri’s shoulder without even trying to hide the fact she was nosy.

Al raised his eyebrows at Susan’s comment but kept his thoughts about THAT to himself. No time to delve into the info as he had a show to do. He called three minutes and then places into his walkie-talkie and left the two women to ooh and aah over the flowers. Thank God, Susan had enough sense not to mention that Richie was in the audience.

Once the show was up, Teri and Susan left the building through the stage door so Teri could have a cigarette as they walked around to the front to Teri’s office to change and relax before intermission. There was a speaker in her office and the box office so they could keep an ear on what was going on in the theatre. A quick wave at the thumbs up from Box Office staff and they were in Teri’s private domain. A bottle of red wine stood open with two glasses next to it. This was another tradition. Al would always buy a really nice bottle of red and leave it open to breath and wait for Teri and Susan to enjoy and hopefully calm Teri’s opening night jitters as she changed.

They sat with the wine and discussed the upcoming trip to LA. Richie’s flowers placed in the center of the desk and Susan vowed to make sure Teri took them home with her, as it may be her last hurrah with Richie if what she heard was any indication of the status of Teri’s relationship with him. Teri and Susan were set to leave for L.A. Sunday after their Matinee and return Wednesday in time for brush-up rehearsal. It was short but they would have a longer trip in about a month once auditions were over and rehearsals started. Teri penciled in dance and music rehearsals, which she didn’t have to be at the theatre for so they could spend ten days on the West Coast. Albeit, not without a ton of phone calls. Nevertheless, it worked.

The girls heard what song was being performed, as they realized they had to change and get ready right then or they would miss intermission.

Looking great in a new pair of black jeans, heels and a cute off the shoulder burgundy silk off-the-shoulder top Teri was ready. She just finished her make-up as Susan came back from checking the lobby. They sold snacks and drinks, alcoholic and non-during intermission.

With her own glass of the traditional wine from Al in hand; Teri took a deep breath as she opened the outer door into the lobby, which was filling up with patrons. Intermission was fifteen minutes long. In actuality, usually twenty or more as they tried to get people back into their seats by flashing the lights. Teri would to stand by the bathrooms and put men in the women’s and women in the men’s single bathrooms off the lobby to move things along if she had to.

Susan and Teri worked the room in separate directions. The moment was not lost on Susan when Teri saw Richie. A huge smile engulfed her face as she made her way in his direction. Knowing Teri probably left her walkie-talkie anywhere but with her, Susan grabbed hers, as she knew it was safe to talk without being over heard by her director. She spoke into it as she walked out the front doors away from the sure to be explosion from Teri when she saw Richie with another woman.

“Red alert, red alert. Al, Al, Susan. Do you have your ears on?”

“Yup, what’s up?”

 “Oh nothing much. The Mad Hatter is following the White Rabbit down the rabbit hole!”

 “Whoa? What the hell are you talking about Susan? I have no time for your bullshit. I have a show to do.”

“Al, I for one am totally aware of that. Teri and Richie are going to collide with his girlfriend in about two seconds.” She said without thinking others would hear her conversation.

Susan peeked into the lobby to watch the Titanic hit an iceberg.  Teri was steps away from a broken heart, and there was nothing anyone could do to stop her. As she watched, Teri and Richie kissed and hugged. He slung his arm around her shoulder and turned them to the woman standing next to him.

Rut Row Susan thought. In her mind, her fingers were in her ears to avoid the big bang from fireworks that she expected. No, not Teri. She will paste a smile on her face and move to the next group.

Nothing happened. Susan, confused, moved further into the room toward Teri. Al was nowhere to be found. Typical male Susan fumed. Leave it to me to get Teri out of this and pick up the pieces of her broken heart.  She took a deep breath and approached the small group off to the side of the room. Richie had his back to the crowd. Arrogant prick. Susan thought as she almost stomped her way over. He can’t be seen at a little theatre production. He has to keep it low key. HE’S not the one with the spotlight this time. Heaven forbid he actually did something nice for someone else. Back toward the crowd my ass.

As Susan mentally berated Richie, he suddenly left Teri alone. With his DATE? Susan wove her way around the patrons to be by Teri’s side, before too much damage happened by the other woman. With a sigh, she saw that Teri’s best friend Gloria was in the group. She would not let anything happen to Teri. Wait, they are laughing. LAUGHING? Seriously? What the hell?

“Susan, come over here. I wanted to thank you for your covert operations on getting Richie and Denise to our opening night. Talk about perfect. Richie even had the flowers delivered to throw me off.  They were telling me all about it. Oh, you probably haven’t met yet. Denise, this is Susan. Or, as Richie has taken to calling her Susie. MY right hand here at the theater. I can’t make a move without her.  Susan, this is Richie’s right hand Denise. From what I am told HE can’t make a move without her.”

Teri smiled. 

She has no idea the internal conversation that Susan just had. Susan to her credit had the grace to say hello and that it was nice to meet her. She again had an internal discussion. Richie’s right hand? Of course, he has an assistant. Of course he would bring her along, if he was going to something that was a-bring- a- date event. You are so off base this time. Shit, speaking of off base. I better find Al and clue him in before he says or does something…

“It was very nice to meet you Denise. I hope to see you at the gala after. We can compare notes on being the right hand for these two. Right now though, I have a show to help get back up for act two. IF you all will excuse me? Teri, I know Al is calling places soon; I’ll take bathroom duty if you would like to stay with your friends a few moments more. Oh, they have The Seat Next to You so if you ever get in the theatre you can actually sit and enjoy the second act.”

With that, Susan left. She passed Richie on his way back to Teri, but only waved as she was on her way to bathroom duty and a quick call to Al to let him know what happened.  They did follow her advice and headed to the theatre.

Act Two was perfect.

 Or, perfect as far as the audience was concerned. Teri on the other hand, who sat between Richie, Denise, and Gloria, kept that internal conversation going. If you don’t speed up the music I am gonna break your fingers. If that costume rips, any more we’re gonna to be shut down for indecent exposure. That damn prop is gonna be cut if they can’t seem to get it off stage in time.

This is why Teri and many, many directors do not sit in the audience other than opening night. Some don’t even do that. Once the show is up, they are somewhere working on their next production.

As the final curtain call was completed, Al walked over to Teri with a cordless mic so she can say her thank you speech.

“I’ll make this short everyone. I know we all want to get to the gala and have a good time,” Teri said as she moved from her seat and down to the stage, which she sat on.

“Thank you all so very much for coming to tonight’s performance and gala. There are too many people to thank to mention each individually. But I do want to acknowledge our long standing staff and crew, the cast, and of course all of you. I will let you in on a little secret. I’ve already picked the next show and have approval from the board. Auditions will be in about a month or six weeks. We are taking a cruise here at the theatre. Be prepared for tap dancing and all that goes along with the Cole Porter classic “Anything Goes”. I have to head out to LA to meet with Don our producer.” She said as she acknowledge Don and his guest. “And go over some stuff. But, we will be back. Don and I are in negotiations right now for next season as well. I guess they like what we do here. I hope YOU do too. It looks like it will be a very exciting year for us. Oh, crew and department heads. You all have your jobs through the next season if you want them. There are some things in the works I can’t talk about at this time, but I want you each to know we will be meeting one on one in the next week to re-negotiate your contracts. That’s it! Enjoy the party and Thank you. Each of you. YOU are the reason we are still here.”

As Teri got up and started to move stage right to exit, a cast member came out with what looked like three dozen flowers wrapped in colorful paper. She took the microphone from Teri’s hands and spoke to the crowd.

“Everyone. Please help me give a round of applause for our fearless leader. This is an important day for her too. It marks the beginning of her fifth season here at the theatre as Artistic Director Extraordinaire.”

Everyone applauded, whistled, and stamped their feet in recognition, and praise, for Teri and her work. Teri went over and took the massive flowers bouquet kissed the female lead who make the speech then left the stage with a wave.

The Gala was a lot of fun. It was relaxed, and everyone enjoyed them self. The caterer that Susan hired for the event was a favorite of Teri’s. The florist who transformed the lobby with plants coordinated the whole thing from stage to lobby was perfect and the booze flowed freely.  After about an hour of working the room and spending some time with friends, and schmoozing patrons, it was time to go. Teri never stayed for the whole party. She looked around for Richie and found him in deep conversation with some of the band and audience members. As she got closer, she heard it was about football. She slid her hand around his waist and smiled up at him.

“Hey, I’m done here. Anytime you want to leave just say the word.”

“I’m set too. It was great to meet everyone,” he said to the group in general. “Let me just find Deni and let her know I’m leaving.”

The couple walked over to where Denise and Susan were chatting. They really enjoyed each other’s company.

“Susan, I’m done. Talk to you in the morning for wake up.”

Richie, Teri, and Susan smiled as they thought about the LAST wake up they got from Susan.

The foursome chatted a bit. When Susan found out Denise was heading back to New York City by herself she would have none of that. There was no way her new friend should have to drive for almost two hours alone this late at night. Driver or not she was not accepting that. It was decided Denise would stay with Susan then Richie and she would go back to New York, pick up their stuff from The Four Seasons Hotel, and hop the plane back to L.A.

With plans set. Teri and Richie took their leave of the theater. Hand in hand, they stopped to say goodnight to friends of Teri’s and the ones who wanted one last moment of their time. The Richie fans were happy, very happy. He stopped for pictures with everyone who asked. He was in such a great mood it was his pleasure to talk with fans.

When they were finally in Richie’s hired limo, and on the way to Teri’s home, they were able to start what both had wanted all night. It began with a kiss.