World Theatre Day
Today is World Theatre Day. For me, that means remembering the productions I've been part of, the incredible performances I've been lucky enough to witness, and the connections that make all of it matter.
Today is World Theatre Day. Apparently that's a thing, and it's been a thing since 1962. But what does it actually mean?
For me, when I think of theatre it is with fondness for the teams and productions that I've been fortunate enough to be part of, but also to remember the great theatre that I've had the good fortune to experience on stage.
Colm Feore as King Lear at Stratford. That production was absolutely stunning. You could feel the weight of every scene, and Feore made you forget you were watching Shakespeare. You were just watching a man lose everything.
A Mirvish production of Wicked with an actress playing Elphaba who would later go on to kill it on Broadway. Seeing Guys and Dolls both at Shaw and Stratford before having a chance to help direct it for VOS in 2018 with a stellar cast. A production of Music Man at Stratford that I thought was incredible in some ways, but lacking in others... nonetheless having the opportunity to play the role of Harold Hill in costumes rented from that very production was really cool.
Above all, thinking of the connections I've made and the sense of community that all theatre brings makes me incredibly thankful.
This past year I was fortunate to join the Northumberland Players production of Mamma Mia. It's probably the most feedback I've received on social media and in person for any show I've ever done. I think that's both a function of the size of the production as well as the fact that people just genuinely need to feel joy and escape reality a little bit. We need to connect in person more desperately than ever. Theatre brings us that opportunity.
I'm looking forward to being on stage again soon, possibly directing a musical in the coming years, and of course seeing as much live onstage productions as I can.
This summer, I look forward to seeing my daughter's partner Dorian in the Neptune Theatre production of Rent. Can't wait!
