Penultimate Blockbuster: Goodbye Meaghan

Tonight was the second to last Blockbuster and Meaghan's last night in Chicago. The house was packed with friends and family and the show went the best that it's ever gone, a wonderful send off for Meaghan. The process has been challenging and fulfilling and I've learned a ton from it. I'm proud and nervous each week for the show and each week the cast makes new discoveries and the audience reacts to different things in different ways. One of the greatest pleasures of the whole experience has been working with Meaghan on one final project before she leaves for NYC.

We met when we got put on a Playground team together back in 2010 and have been friends and collaborators since. She's one of the most talented people I've ever met and one of the most generous and kind friends I've ever made. As a collaborator she's pure energy, eliciting inspiration from the people she works with and garnering the attention of any audience who has the pleasure of seeing her.  As a friend she's caring and hilarious. Always supportive and ready to offer her insightful perspective, creative time, or share opportunity however busy she is. I'll miss her deeply.

I wrote her a letter offering some suggestions on her move and telling her what her friendship has meant to me. A portion below.

"Ask for help. This is a tough one for me because a lot of the times I feel like I have to do stuff on my own, to prove that I’m strong or independent or whatever. And this is OK up to a point but ultimately in almost all aspects of life you can’t do it alone. So ask for help when you need it whether its finding places to eat, places to perform, calling family or friends when you're lonesome, looking for work, what have you. Do not hesitate to reach out to people for help, they will want to do so.

You’re very brave. People talk and think about courage typically as a reflection of how we see it in movies. Usually in regards to confrontation or like overcoming a life threatening illness or some really dire circumstance. The reality is that life isn’t that dramatic often. But it still takes courage to get up every day and live life with joy and principle despite how, at times, it seems somewhat impossible. You walk through life with, what seems to me, a real don’t-give-a-shit attitude. Not like the kind of attitude young improv dudes have where it is clearly petulant and partially if not entirely posturing. And its not like you lack compassion, you’re incredibly empathetic, but you have a true sense of doing what you’re going to do, living your life how you’re going to live it, regardless of how people view you. And that’s brave. That’s impressive. And I know you, like me like everyone, have insecurities and fears but you go on and you keep moving forward despite those. You don’t use them as a crutch, you don’t lash out, you don’t blame, you take responsibility when you’re at fault, you keep going. From where I sit that’s real courage. Now you’re about to/are taking a big step and that’s brave too. Whether you stay in NYC long or not. Whether you move to LA or not. Whatever happens. Action takes courage and never forget, never question, how brave you are."