Emma.

For Emma

When I returned to the University after my brief absence, I began to develop some friendships and get more involved in the drama department. I was still fairly new to everything however, and often felt like a black sheep. It wasn't until I got cast as Leonato in Much Ado About Nothing (move over, Clark Gregg) that things started to shift and I started to feel more like a part of the department rather than an outsider. That play will always hold a special place in my heart because of that, but more importantly because it's where I met Emma.

Now, for the first few rehearsals I was still feeling like the outsider, so I didn't really acknowledge anyone else in the cast that I didn't already know (which was maybe 4 or 5 people). But once I started to become more comfortable with everyone, and once I felt like I was a part of the cast, I started to chat with the people I didn't know that well. I remember very clearly seeing Emma, this brand new, fresh faced, 1st year drama student, standing near a couple of us sitting on the couches, looking slightly shy and nervous. I thought of my first year, when I got cast as a very small role in a play and felt the same way. I also remember all the other cast members in that show seeming to ignore me, or unintentionally make me feel like less a part of the show because I was new. I remembered all this and immediately decided I wouldn't be that person. I would try and make any first year feel welcome. So I struck up a conversation with her, and while I don't recall the specifics I remember thinking 'Hey, this girl is really cool.'

But it wasn't until the cast all got together for an 'ice cream party' that I realized how cool she was. During said party I recall overhearing some talks about Lord of the Rings or Wes Anderson or something along those lines, and being who I am I of course perked up. This led to a night of film talk which anyone who knows me knows that it's one of my favorite things. It was then that I decided that Emma and I needed to become best friends. 

We started chatting and realized we had a lot of similar tastes when it came to movies, but it was also just a delight to chat with her, her passion and sense of humor made sure that the conversations were never boring. At one point the topic of Freaks and Geeks came up, and I asked her if she had seen Undeclared as well, the spiritual sequel to that series. She hadn't, so I immediately requested, no, demanded that she watch it with me. One of my favorite memories of our friendship was the day we watched almost the entire series in one sitting, pausing at one point for a McDonald's break of course. 

From that point on we've been very close. Our friendship continued to strengthen and grow as we went through University shows together. I directed her in my upper level directing project, as well as the first full length I directed for the TheatreXtra season (Patience). But for me, the best experience I had was when I got the opportunity to perform alongside her in Hay Fever, where we played brother and sister. I've done a fair share of acting on the stage but I've never had more fun than I did getting to play off Emma's energy and enthusiasm. I loved my character in that show but the relationship our characters had together was my favorite aspect of it and I don't doubt a lot of that had to do with Emma. 

Through the course of our friendship I've also gotten the pleasure of meeting Emma's family, and having met them I can see why she's such a strong and beautiful woman - her family is amazing. They are such lovely and inviting people that when I accidentally show up at her house with a pizza on the wrong day (we had agreed to hang out but I had my days mixed up) and Emma isn't home, they invite me in and give me booze. I have very few friends whose families I've met, and I don't think it's a coincidence that Emma's is one of the few. They are all very close and very loving and I'm constantly amazed at their kindness and positive nature. 

So five years later and we're still as close as ever. I've continued to work with Emma in various aspects, and there's rarely a time she couldn't call me and ask me for pretty much anything and I'd do it no question. She's been a consistently positive part of my life and I will always be grateful for her friendship. I love you Emmster, and don't you ever forget it.