An Intermission

I’ve always known my work as a theatre artist would have its highlights, its struggles and its slow times. I’d have never thought that a pandemic would bring live theatre and public gatherings to a screeching halt, and that houses across the country would go dark for months or even years.

Back in college I spent a couple semesters studying theatre history (under the tutelage of a preeminent historian, Dr. Alvin Goldfarb) and one thing I remember learning about theatre is its resilience. There have been many times when the theatre had its challenges – social and cultural stigmas, plagues, world wars, etc. But even at certain times and places when it was even outright banned, that challenge led to traveling troupes of actors, performing their plays in the shadows and on the road, like bandits. In some ways, our current moment seems a bit like that.

The need for storytelling has never gone away, and the personal connections between humans on-stage and off cannot be denied. While today’s world has an overabundance of entertainment options, these moments are what live theatre brings, and I believe it will come back, as strong as before, with new elements and techniques.

I will return to it with the right opportunity and in the right environment that makes it safe for everyone. In the meantime I’ll continue to find other avenues as my creative outlet, like I’ve always done.