Together in Gratitude

Proctors Collaborative reflects on the moments, people, and accomplishments that inspire appreciation and connection throughout the year

As we take time to reflect on the moments and people that shape our days, gratitude becomes a gentle reminder of how much we have to appreciate. This month, the team at Proctors Collaborative is opening the curtain to share a collection of what we are grateful for with our audiences. Each expression of gratitude reminds us that it’s not just the big achievements that matter, but the shared experiences, support, and laughter that fill the spaces in between.

Life:

“Feeling so thankful this year for my new dream job at Proctors Collaborative, working with these gorgeous venues, and an incredible team. After 20 years on the road, it’s amazing to sleep in my own bed after a show! Even better, we get to host family for the holidays — which means ALL the Italian food, laughter, and dance parties with our daughter and nieces.”

— Marisa Flynn, Vice President of Programming, Marketing, and Communications of Proctors Collaborative

“I’m very grateful for all the blessings I have right now and for all I have yet to receive. I’m so grateful for our beautiful Universal Preservation Hall, its staff and volunteers, and my place in it. I’m especially grateful for my overall good health, my family, my sweet grandson, Brooks, and for my friends. It is an abundant life!”

— Teddy Foster, Director of Universal Preservation Hall

“I am grateful for laughter, for my family and friends, my dog Hofbräu, her kitty sister Schrödinger, and my three ducks. I’m also thankful for creativity, the ability to work in the field I trained for and love, and the collaboration that is a part of theatre. And I am grateful that I have, give, and receive love in my life.”

— Margaret E. Hall, Associate Artistic Director at Capital Repertory Theatre

“I am grateful for my daughters and my wife. I am grateful for the matter-of-fact beauty I notice in all sorts of unseen places, yet right in front of us. I am grateful for my team, and I am grateful for the knowledge that collaboration and love will always win in the end because joy is what we seek for ourselves and our audiences!”

— Obadiah Savage, Collaborative Scene Shop Director

“After a few challenging years of love, loss, and growth, I’m grateful for the people who stuck around, for the roots I’ve grown in my adopted community, for the fact that my three healthy and extraordinary kids still think I’m cool, and for myself and my authenticity. I’m obnoxiously, obscenely grateful for the music that moved me, inspired me, and kept me up way too late on way too many nights.”

— Mel Bailey, Corporate Sales Administrative Assistant

“I am grateful every day for having a job that I love that often doesn’t feel like a job, for every one of our volunteers, for my coworkers who keep me sane on the hard days, for working for an organization I am proud to be a part of every single day, and, of course, for my family and friends. I’m also thankful to be able to live in a place that feels like a warm hug.”

— Cindy Laroe, Audience Services Manager

Family:

“I am grateful for my loved ones, near and far. For my furball who may have — dare I say — turned me into a cat person. For the first sweater of the season, a solid rom com in whatever form it takes, and for the coworkers, friends, and strangers who unintentionally put a smile on my face every day.”

— Kelly Auricchio, Senior Account Manager

“I am grateful for my family, friends, warm tea on a cold day, good music, and comfort in the stillness of a busy life!”

— Arianna Paul, Marketing Account Manager

“I am grateful for my husband and my two furry companions who provide me with lots of cuddles and comfort. I am grateful for good coffee, friends and family who bring extra joy to my life; getting to create beautiful music in my free time and our organization who works tirelessly to bring quality art and education to the Capital Region.”

— Kali Hicks, Group Sales Manager

“I am grateful for my partner, dog, cat, my friends, good coffee, cozy sweaters, deep breaths, and my coworkers.”  

— Jessica Cameris, Collaborative Event Coordinator

“I’m grateful for my wonderful husband, my tall and hilariously weird kid, our dog, and to my coworkers, who somehow make work feel less like work.”

— Carrie Kirkaldy, Office Operations Manager

“I am grateful to my wife for her constant encouragement and support, our two puppies at home, our house, and friends that make life much lighter and happier.”

— Jeremiah Booker, Accounting Generalist

Friends:

“I’m grateful for friends who make me laugh, the little joys that keep me grounded, and the quiet moments that remind me to breathe. Even when the world feels heavy, there’s comfort in knowing that gratitude can still cut through the noise.”

— Ali Hamdani, Marketing Account and Digital Media Manager

Organization/Coworkers:

“After being grateful for waking up each morning, I am startled to be delighted to get to do this work for community and culture everyday into my 50th year of the work. It feels like it is more needed than ever.”

— Philip Morris, CEO of Proctors Collaborative

“I am grateful to work in a place where I learn something every single day.
I am grateful to work for a leader who believes in continuous, incremental improvement and has more patience with the process than I do.  
I am grateful to work in a place where collaboration is an actual goal, not a buzzword.
I am grateful to work in a place where our goal is to bring people together for entertainment and connection, where people are happy when they arrive to see a show and happy when they’re leaving. Where we often represent the best part of their day, and they can’t wait to come see us again.”

— Jean Leonard, President of Proctors Collaborative

“I am grateful for having so many peers and coworkers who genuinely care about our mission, the arts, each other, and the larger community around us. Even when a day or project is frustrating or I’m feeling cynical about the world, the people at the Collaborative make me feel lucky to be working here. On top of sincerely striving to improve the Collaborative and help each other out at work, the folks here make me laugh, introduce me to new music, art, theatre, and ideas, inspire me to ask better questions, and model how to be a good human in a complex modern world.”  

— Sophia Lingane, Patron Data Management Director

“I am grateful that I get to come work for the organization that helped me grow so much as a student and now as an employee!” 

— Jacob Frenyea, Education Program Manager

“I am grateful for all of the blessings in my life — too many to name. I am grateful for my amazing family, friends, and co-workers and the love I receive from them every day. I am grateful for this amazing place to work, doing what I love, and where everyone is welcomed and embraced. I am grateful for my life; my heart is full.”

— Judi Bouchard, Rental and House Manager

“I am grateful, that while life doesn’t always teach lessons in the manner I prefer, it loves me enough to teach them. I am grateful for the lessons I’ve learned, the ones I’m still working on, the people who I’m loved by, and those I get to love back.”

— Tasha Hudson, Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator and Community Liaison

“I am grateful that I love my job. And for my husband and puppy.” 

— Jeremy Anderson-Ward, Box Office Manager

“I’m grateful for good coffee, working Wi-Fi, and coworkers who know when I’m being sarcastic (which is… often). I’m thankful for the magic of theatre, good laughs with my coworkers, and a marquee that’s currently behaving itself. Fingers crossed it lasts.”

— Steve King, Digital Correspondence and Traditional Media Manager

May this spirit of thankfulness continue to guide us, not just during this season, but in all the days and moments we share ahead. With deep gratitude for you, have a happy holiday season.