Road to Opening Week 15: Matt Armet on Opening Week at A CHORUS LINE in Stratford

Opening Night has arrived!

"All I want to be is just happy." It's one of Bobby's lines in the final scene of the show. I actually think that I'm the happiest I've ever been in my life. I'm doing a fantastic version of my favourite show on my favourite stage in the country with some of my favourite people in the world. (Ok, the teen burger, fries and root beer I'm currently eating after finishing our last onstage rehearsal is probably helping, and so will the ice cream cake that's going to follow! But that's beside the point.) This whole journey has been incredible: from the auditions, to booking the job, to the first day of rehearsal, and all of the blood, sweat and tears in between. I would not change it for the world.

Opening week is a marathon and a very exciting one. We start the week off with the big gala, red carpet opening of Macbeth on Monday and then A Chorus Line opens on Tuesday night, with a different show opening every day for the rest of the week after that. It's a week full of adrenaline, parties, schmoozing, laughter and tears. I always look forward to Opening Week. It's one of the most magical times of the season. The energy in the Festival Theatre on Opening night is unmatched. There is no doubt in my mind that the energy at A Chorus Line is going to be ridiculous!

Since last June when we auditioned for this show, I have been imagining what it's going to feel like on Opening Night when we turn away from the mirrors and do the Opening Jazz Combo facing the audience. I've talked about this moment so many times over the past 16 weeks and I still haven't figured out a way to prepare myself for what feelings may come at that moment. I just wish I had one more blog post next week to let you all know what it felt like. I can't wait for some of you to experience it with us from the audience that night! I tried to talk to my roommate, Alex, the other morning about my excitement level as we back up to the kick line in the finale and I started crying just talking about it. But truly, if I've made it that far into the show at Opening without a tear, I'll be so proud of myself. HA!

I just want to take a quick second to thank Broadway World and the Publicity Department at the Festival for asking me and trusting me to write this blog for them. It has truly been an incredible experience! I also want to thank Donna Feore for bringing together an amazingly talented group of people to create this re-imagined A Chorus Line! In more ways than one, I really did "need this job." This show has already changed all of our lives for the better. Last, but not least, thank you to my Mom and Dad, my brother, my teachers, and my agent who have all been the biggest support system in getting me here.

I wish I could go back in time to the Centennial Auditorium in Saskatoon when I first saw A Chorus Line and tell my 12 year old self that one day I would be playing a confident, accomplished, openly gay man in that same show at the Stratford Festival. I would love to see the look on his face. (It would probably be terror because gay was so scary back then. HA!)

I'm quite sad that the journey of rehearsals is over, but now the journey of truly sharing this show with audiences four shows a week begins. It really is all about the journey and Opening is just another step on this sensational road. I hope you can all come to see it sometime between now and October 30, and that you love it as much as we all do!

Now I'm off to take my 800th bath. LOL I hear Epsom Salts make a great Opening Night gift!