Farewell! God knows when we shall meet again. -William Shakespeare

Last month, Grammy/Emmy/Tony winner Sara Bareilles wrapped her national tour for her new album, Good Grief. Sara had begun writing music as a way to process the death of her best friend; the album is an exploration, “finding ways to celebrate as well as mourn, or at least actively explore how those two polarizing impulses might intersect,” writes Chris Willman in Variety Magazine. I had the great pleasure and of seeing the show at the Los Angeles Dolby Theatre with my daughter, Hilary. We would be attending the funeral of her grandfather just two days later, and the music was cathartic, healing, and heavenly.

Music has a way of doing that, doesn’t it?

So does time with friends, and hearing the stories of others who have experienced loss.

There are, in this life, many moments and ways to say goodbye. Perhaps to a lover, a child, a parent, a coworker… we say goodbye for reasons heartbreaking or uplifting. We may leave a career or home. A wedding dress or heirloom china may be donated, a dear student graduates, a pet passes over the rainbow bridge.

To be human is to say goodbye over and over.

This month, LadyFaire holds space for the goodbyes, the partings, the toodle-oos. Some elicit joy, as the brilliant Dr. Seuss reminds us: “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” Some evoke sorrow. As Charlie Brown once said, “Goodbye always makes my throat hurt.”

But all farewells do, ultimately lead to new hellos.

We invite you to read about Marlayna Sereya’s goodbyes to the amazing historical character she played at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire as well as to her life in the United States, as she sought a new home in Seville, Spain, where freedom was abundant and unconditional.

Festival veterans speak to the loss that accompanies leaving a beloved character behind. For those who perform on the paths or embody characters as “playtrons”, the alter egos we create can work their way into our bones. Putting them to rest can leave one bereft.

We explore rituals around loss and open a pathway to comfort in our features

Finally, our consolation gift for you is an uplifting and, at moments, lighthearted playlist that explores the human response to loss and goodbye in so many of its variations. Featuring songs by Sara Bareilles (of course), The Wailin’ Jennys, Wiz Khalifa, Lojo Russo, and the beloved faire musician Owain Phyfe and more, the playlist is both melancholy and jubilant. We invite you to join us sonically at iTunes or Spotify, and may joy be to you all.

Kim Bryant is a veteran performer, educator, and writer. With 25 years teaching experience, an adjunct professorship in Theatre, and twenty years in the festival world, she brings a wealth of experience to LadyFaire Magazine. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Lubbock Christian University, a Master’s degree in Theatre from the University of Houston, and a Master’s degree in Communications from Southern New Hampshire University. Kim has studied at Actor’s Studio of Chicago, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, and at New York’s Lincoln Center, and currently works in leadership for Disney Live Entertainment. Kim has three grown children, Hilary, Travy, and Libby; two grandchildren, Hazel and Ezekiel; and two bonus grandchildren, Ally and JJ.