The Show is opened. Read what everyone is saying...

I thoroughly enjoyed "HATS!" as did my chapter.  I felt "HATS!"  had a little more substance than "Menopause..." even though I certainly enjoyed "Menopause...", also.  What I really like about "HATS!" was the showcasing of several scenarious of life situations that most women will encounter either personally or through their friends and family.  The music was fabulous and the actresses were just outstanding with incredible voices.  I just cannot thank you enough for contacting me with the opportunity to attend the dress
rehearsal.   The Dancin' Divas are available and would love to help with more events should something come up.

Most Sincerely,

Marilene

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"I took my mother to HATS! for her 80th birthday...she's never been one to embrace her age and left the theatre with a little lighter bounce in her step..."

Greg Luke

who continues with...

"I really don't like musicals, but this one was GREAT!"

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It was great!  My girlfriend & I really enjoyed it.

I only hope that the rest of Denver discovers your wonderful show.

I promise to do my part.

Walt

Quotes from Red Hat Members themselves:

"It was wonderful! I just enjoyed it. Put your red hat on!"
-- Kathryn Ullrick, Whippany, New Jersey

"It was spectacular. I related to everything! By the way, my oven is still hot!"
-- Rosalie Travers, Red Birds; Brooklyn, New York

"Wow! It covers a nice broad range of life experiences. It's hilarious. The music...fantastic!"
-- Barbara Mracek, Madame Butterfly; New Jersey

"Just fantastic. Sends the right message. The younger people will see there is life after 50!"
-- Janet Wells, Dizzy Dames of Unknown Fame; New Jersey

"The show was awesome! A real message to many of us. Worthwhile and wonderful to see."
-- Gail Blum, Hotsie Totsies; Hawthorne, New Jersey

Letter From a Cast Member:

July, 30, 2006

Dear Sue Ellen and the Red Hatters,

On July 1st, I turned Fifty and the month of June was not a pretty one for me. I was completely inconsolable. Somewhere in my youth, I picked up this notion that when I turned Fifty I would simply disappear. Literally shrivel up and disappear.

Well, a few days before my birthday, in the midst of the angst, my agent emailed me an audition scene to read for a new musical called HATS. The character description read, “Maryanne, 49.99999 years old and not happy about it.” I opened the attached file, read the scene and could not believe what I saw. There for the first time was someone expressing exactly what I felt so strongly. I instantly knew this woman, as it was me!

When I walked into the audition room the next day, I did something I have absolutely never done. I announced my upcoming birthday!! An actress never tells her age and I have spent the last decade cleverly guarding and masking the facts of my age to the best of my ability. Somehow, this time it just flew out of my mouth, “I am turning Fifty this week!”

Well fast forward, I turned Fifty and wound up having a wonderful birthday. And the amazing thing was, I woke up on July 2nd and felt oddly better. I had made it and I was somehow still here. The weight had been lifted. But the real gift was still to come.

The following week I was cast in the role of Maryanne and when I arrived at the first day of rehearsal and saw this amazing group of women assembled to work on this show, I knew something magical was about to happen. Then we did a read through of the script and heard the songs for the first time. I felt myself getting very emotional and when we got to the song “Invisible”, the tears started pouring out of my eyes by the bucket full. I just couldn’t stop. The power of those words touched me so deeply and I was just so thrilled to be able to take this ride.

It has been an amazing two weeks. I have had the chance to watch women who are a few years my senior, some of whom I have worked with in the past and others whom I have worshipped for years. These are Broadway legends who are singing and acting and dancing better than ever. They are all truly stunning and as I watch each one of them work, I am reminded of how much there is ahead for all of us. While we may get messages that tell us we are finished at Fifty, the truth is, as you say in your beautiful book, we are just starting.

I consider myself so fortunate to have this experience at a time when I needed it so very desperately. It is truly a gift and I thank The Red Hat Society, Mitchell Maxwell , Lynne Taylor-Corbett, Marcia and Tony Dodge and all involved for bringing us together. We seven woman and our whole production team have already bonded so quickly. Somehow we are forming our own Red Hat Chapter. (Yesterday, we had our first Red Hat bridal shower for our stage manager, Pam. It came complete with red satin hatbox and a red tulle bridal veil hand crafted by our own Contessa Nora Mae.) I think we should call ourselves The Broadway Divas- Chapter one. Here’s to all the new chapters that will follow…

Much love and thanks,

Cheryl Stern