It has been quite a couple of weeks.

And no, I’m not talking about disappointing box office figures.

I’m talking about Tropical Storm Harvey and Hurricane Irma.

I watched CNN over the past week or two with my mouth agape, as I watched people swimming in rivers where roads should be, and holing up in shelters, praying their homes would be standing upon their return.

And then I thought, “And yesterday I was worried about how we didn’t sell as many tickets to see a musical comedy?”

The irony of all of this is that I’m in pre-production for Once On This Island, a show about how to rebuild a community after a great storm.

So, in that spirit, I’d like to ask three requests:

1 – Count your blessings.  If you weren’t affected by these two natural disasters, you’re lucky.  Sure, traffic sucks.  Someone didn’t call you back.  Your show hasn’t been produced (yet).  But you’re lucky.  There are millions of people whose lives and livelihoods are in absolute chaos right now.

2 – Make a $10 donation to The Red Cross.  (That’s like two Starbucks!)  Just text REDCROSS to 90999 and donate $10 right now.  (Or click here to donate more.)

3 – Give good thoughts.  Whether you call it a prayer or positive energy, send it down to those who were affected, so they can rebuild and come out of this stronger than ever.

The theater is an amazing thing.  It is designed to entertain, to educate, and to heal.  So it is important that all of us continue to do what we do, no matter what is happening out there in the world.

But, it’s also important to remember that our tiny troubles with tap shoes and top hats are nothing compared to what so many others are going through right now.

Text REDCROSS to 90999 right now.