New York actors amaze me

Every time, man. Every time. They are so good. They work so hard. For so little money. I don't actually want to validate that part, because I believe in paying people to do their art, craft, skill, brilliance. But in New York, the most disciplined, talented, dedicated actors show up and bring their best selves to week-long workshops for less than minimum wage, AND THEY ARE SO GOOD.

George Lee Andrews, Stanley Bahorek, Ruthie Baker, Tiffan Borelli, Kevin Duda, Michael J. Farina, Allison Fraser, Angela Grovey, Taylor Louderman, Christian Noll, James Moye, and Arbender Robinson. I am talking about you. Your work brings enormous joy to people—including me—and I want to thank you publicly for what you bring, what you do. 

And New York directors, let's talk about you. You work for years on people's shows, and then those shows get somewhere, and often you don't get to go with them. But you keep working, and you keep working, and you keep working, and you stay faithful to writers, and they stay faithful to you, and then—guess what!—your show you've been developing forever goes up at a major off-Broadway house! Michelle Tattenbaum, I am talking about you. Your work brings enormous joy to people—including me—and I want to thank you publicly for what you bring, what you do.

And New York writer and composers, what would we do without you? You (we) get an idea for a show, and you sink your heart and soul into writing it, when nobody is making any promises it will ever go anywhere, but still you (we) sit there and create entire worlds out your (our) minds with the vision that one day they might get taken into the hands of some great directors and actors and producers. Brad Ross and Mark Waldrop, I am talking about you. Your work brings enormous joy to people, and I want to thank you publicly for what you bring, what you do.  

Because remember, gratitude=joy. Among other reasons to be grateful.