Michael Lee Shomler

Well folks, Anastasia closed a week ago. How's everyone holding up? 😅

I am grateful. My heart mourns that we've taken our final bows on the Anastasia stage, but this cast, crew, and story make my heart glad to have been along for such a lovely ride.

Amazing. Astonishing. Alive.

Honestly, being a part of this production has been one of the most enriching and positive experiences in my life. If you had told me 6 months ago that I'd be singing and dancing on stage in a musical, I would have laughed. About a year ago I was struggling pretty badly with depression, anxiety, rejection sensitivity, and my physical, social, mental and spiritual health were not doing so great. I still have rough days, who doesn't? But they are fewer and far between.

Thankfully with a lot of prayer, therapy, and emotional support from mostly my incredible wife Katie @flora.plantrants , I endured and came out the other side.

Better. Bolder. Braver.

I gave everything I had to this show. My voice, my time, my pain, my soul. I felt called and inspired to come out of my shell, push through the social anxiety, and for the first time in a long time, give 110% to a creative community project that stretched my abilities. Who knew so many of my dormant seldom ever used skills would translate so well to live theater? Besides playing gigs with my band, believe it or not, this was my first time performing on stage since highschool. (Class of 2010 woot woot, where my millennials at? Haha)

The long nights. The late rehearsals. Learning and relearning how to read sheet music and sing harmonies in an ensemble. (Shout-out to Josh, Lill, and Jacob for literally being the best Tenor Bros ever.)

Choreography. Costumes. Curtain Call.

Thank you so much to everyone at @oneeleventheatre for pouring your hearts and souls into this show. Tiana, Erica, Rachel, Kristin, Brandon, Stephanie, Emily, Tyler, Ron, John, the list goes on and on. To all cast and crew reading this. You made this a healing and invigorating experience for me, and countless others.

Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Thank you all. For ev