Iris

(Note: these are just my experiences and I know they’re not universal. If you want to add your own feel free to do so !)

It begins before the show does. You hear actors saying “the last time I have to get this makeup on” and the ASM telling us it’s the last time they’ll take our phones.

We carry out our preshow traditions, but there’s a sort of sadness to them now. The traditions will continue, but the seniors who passed them down to us will not.

That familiar nervous anticipation as the stage manager calls house to half, the first cue to start the show,

And the last cue to fade everything out.

The final applause from the audience, the final bows.

“I’m going off headset,” but you’re never coming back on.

Backstage, the actors are taking off costumes and putting them away. They’ll go to the “dungeon” and probably never be seen again.

There are posters laid out everywhere, inviting everyone to sign them. You find yours and laugh as you read through the inside jokes and references, and hold back tears as you read the goodbyes.

Somebody sings the first few notes of a showtune and quickly everyone else joins in. It’s from a past show of ours, and the lead reprises their role.