I have been involved with this show over half of my life, and every year brings its own challenges and rewards. This year has been no different. Each time a "real" director leaves the drama it falls back to Frankie, "who can handle it." Well, I am not sure how well it would be handled if it were just me. Thanks to the cast of assistant directors, we have a performance for you!
 
Every year is a different show. That is why I have always told people that you should see it every year. Thank you for your support and I will ask each of you to get as least two other people to come this season. What you will be seeing tonight is not a group of professional actors, but a group of local people that want the story of the Halifax and the Roanoke Valley to be remembered and told. This story is important to us and, ultimately, to our nation.

One of the challenges this year, among the many, was a desire to take what former directors have added to the show and make it more of what Max Williams originally envisioned. This, is our second year without his input, has been different. I only hope that he will look down and smile.