The merged entity will take on performances of both groups, so we will be able to do one or two more shows per year.

Our schedule is unaffected by some of the recent changes that they've announced.

It's a really great space to work in. It's got all of the best equipment, it's got very nice and comfortable seating for the audience, and they've got a pit that you can raise and lower which a lot of places don't have. So it has a lot of benefits.

If you think about it, they want to make sure that we've got people from McLean participating, they want to make sure that we've got good attendance ? these are all things that we strive to do anyway. So we are really looking at this as a codification of our goals.

What keeps this industry challenging as an actor is that you never know how something will turn out. The ups and downs are constant. You're never just smoothly sailing along. You're always going to be on loose footing. That's what ultimately now I expect and accept and that doesn't scare me as much.

Gov. Riley has been discussing and will continue to discuss this issue with legislators.