A closing-weekend update from cast member Ryan Andes

The idea came to me during the week we opened.  

We were in the throes of tech, still working out transitions, beginnings, endings, character choices, beats, moments, pace; the show was morphing into, well, a really real show.  That last week was pretty intense for us all. There were moments of absolute exhilaration, others of abject terror, others that were downright weird.  Together, we seven carried each other through the hills and valleys of that final week, much the way warriors do through an epic battle.  And in so doing, formed a kinship, a brotherhood, a bond that is forged only in the fires of creative passion and hardship.  We had become a family, nestled against the bosom of our mother, Craigslist.  

I realized that week that what we had was something really special, worthy of commemoration.  Thus, I decided to use what skill I had to craft with my bare hands a series of mementoes for my brethren, gifts that could stand the test of time and carry on the spirit of our creation.  In the same tradition of warriors past, I created a crest that honored our source of inspiration -CraigsList, or CL- and decided to carve it out of leather, and fashion it in a way that could be worn on the wrist.  I toiled in my apartment, measuring and cutting, slicing and riveting, forming a series of six CL cuffs that were distinct to each member of our ensemble.  

Dax - The boisterous and articulate dancer.  And the only other male.  His needed to be rough, yet refined.  Not too flashy, masculine, yet elegant and stylish.  I decided on a black base, rust-brown lettering, and bronze rivets.  Shazaam.  

Katie - Vibrant and austere, the writer, creator and actor.  I wanted hers to have some flash and pizazz, and represented her Texan charm.  Also, she works at the PIT.  Hence, I went with a black base, beautiful bright red lettering, and nickel rivets, to add some authority.

Lee - The nuanced character actor.  Lee was tough.  I wanted hers to have edginess and style, but not be too simple.  It needed grit.  I found this awesome buffalo textured brown as a base and went with blue lettering, then threw in some nickel rivets to tone it down while simultaneously spicing things up.  

Michelle O - The classical musician and teacher. Our beautiful Barker.  Classy, elegant, and refined.  She sings a song about her butthole.  A gorgeous smooth brown leather base and blue letters were exactly the right tone.  Oh, and nickel rivets, cause classy ladies love nickels.  

Michelle "Frankie" T - The well-toned and business-like stage manager.  Total badass, no one messes with Frankie.  Hers needed some salt n peppa.  I had this sweet snakeskin brown that I knew she could easily pull off, threw that down on a black base, and gave it a little extra bling with some bronze rivets.  Fierce.  

Kimmy - The amazing director and Princess of Snacks herself.  Couldn't screw around with this one.  This one had to be bangin.  It didn't take long for me to pin down a freakin awesome fuchsia that would look so sweet framed on a fab flower textured base tied down with rivets of nickel.  This one was so on point.   

Opening night came finally after our grueling week of work.  It seemed surreal. I called the six to me, and with blessings gave each one their respective CL cuff.  Kimmy's matched her outfit.  Kimmy told Lee to wear hers.  For the show.  Which she did and has done for every show.  The others donned their cuffs, each one realizing that another link in our bond had just been strengthened, for we rocked the crap out of the show that night and every night since. 

Thus, the Craigslist cuffs were born, and the show itself became known as a legend of its time.  

-Ryan Andes, Ensemble Member