Dear Dad and Mom,
Thank you for taking me to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival to see my first play when I was 4 years old. I couldn’t get enough. And all the plays that followed (at The Bathhouse, Seattle Children’s Theatre, and Taproot) kept my imagination alive! Dad, thank you for reading bedtime stories to me in funny voices. Mom, thank you for organizing our school plays, driving me to all my rehearsals, and seeing as many of my performances as possible. You both instilled in me a love of story and a belief that I should follow my heart. Thank you!
Dear Molly, Loren and Wendy,
My first drama teachers, you turned a passion for story into a love of acting! I loved being on stage. I loved speaking those words. I loved becoming the character. I loved it so much I couldn’t believe any of my friends wanted to do anything else with their lives. If you hadn’t been there, I have no idea what I’d be doing with my life. Maybe making a decent wage? Ha! But really, I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else and you got me started! Thank you!
Dear ECA (my school in Madrid),
Thank you for the experience of a lifetime, directing Arsenic and Old Lace my senior year. Thank you to everyone who helped make, what seemed impossible, possible! Sometimes I still can’t believe we did it. Thank you!
Dear David P,
I don’t even know if you will be able to read this, but I need to thank you anyway. When I was in Prague, you gave me a chance that I didn’t deserve. You saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. You encouraged me to keep pursuing my dream, at a time when I had let it go. Thank you!
Dear Jeff,
At a crossroads in my life, you came along and guided me through. You helped me see through the fog of fear and doubt into my true desires and helped me believe pursuing them was worthwhile. Thank you!
Dear Taproot Theatre,
You gave me my first professional acting job… and you keep asking me back. Every time I get to work with you, I am encouraged and overjoyed. You are a wonderful group of people, full of integrity and creativity. It is always an honor! Thank you!
Dear Melissa,
As my agent, you have hustled and fought for me. Thank you for believing in me and opening doors to my career that I didn’t think possible!
Dear LA friends,
Thank you for housing me, encouraging me and helping me build a foundation for a career down there!
Dear Leah (and the cast and crew of Julius Caesar),
I am so grateful for being in Julius Caesar. You don’t know the depth of disappointment I’ve experienced over the past few months and how going to rehearsal every night was a rock to hold on to. Being in this show saved me(from quitting). On top of that, the artistic and friendly spirit I have found in you, excites me for the possibilities of the future. I can’t wait to create with you again!
The Seattle theatre community,
Every community is flawed and cracked, because it is made up of human beings. I’ll be honest that sometimes you haven’t been my favorite, but for some things I owe you a debt of gratitude. Thank you to the artists who treated me as an equal when I felt less than. Thank you for giving me the benefit of the doubt when I doubted myself. Thank you for demonstrating the camaraderie that is possible in a competitive world. If we keep working together, who knows what could happen?! ART? Let’s do it!
Dear, dear friends and family,
You, who have sat and talked with me over the phone or countless cups of coffee, helping me process, mourn losses and dream dreams; thank you!
Dear Michael,
Last, but most of all, my husband. Too often I take you for granted. From the beginning, you have believed in me and pushed me forward. You have made so many sacrifices so that I could pursue this dream. I don’t deserve these gifts and yet you keep on giving them. I apologize for the times I’ve dismissed your words of encouragement, downplaying what you see “because you’re my husband.” I was throwing away the sweetest offerings of love because I couldn’t see past my own insecurities. Thank you for your love, belief and sharpening imagination. I owe more to you than I can ever repay. Thank you for not letting me quit. You keep me going!
Well, I know I have missed people. Once you start thanking people you can’t stop. It’s contagious. Think about it. Thank someone. It will make a world of difference!
CHARISSA J. ADAMS 