“What’ll we do?” That was the question at theatres everwhere in 2021. Contingency plans were made for every logical “what if” that could be imagined. Somehow, I made it out with 6 events for the year: 3 live and 3 in other media.
The live events were all bunched toward the end of the year. Even big-budget Broadway took its time to come back, as shows staggered their openings throughout the fall and holiday season. Some of what opened or re-opened has already closed, either by design (limited runs), because of economics, or just plain bad luck.
It was a joy to be back at Millbrook Playhouse again, with the added bonus of crossing a play off the wish list: Ira Levin’s thriller Deathtrap is a model of plotting and dialogue. Gratitude must also be expressed for the hard work of friends both longtime and new who were part of this project.
Then it was time for Judson Theatre Company to take a first shot at a special event. Series One writer Stan Zimmerman and host Alexander Rodriguez brought An Evening on the Lanai: Remembering ‘The Golden Girls’ to the Sandhills, and audiences loved it. It was a clear sign that there’s room for JTC to expand the programming to include events like this one.
JTC also produced its first new play, the regional premiere of Zimmerman’s Yes, Virginia starring Mindy Sterling and Arnetia Walker. Another first: the script has been published by TRW, and we’re listed in the front of the book as part of the play’s history. That’s a real honor.
When JTC started producing radio shows in collaboration with Muirfield Broadcasting, Artistic Director Daniel Haley and I had no idea how much we’d enjoy putting them together. As we rehearse, we have Zoom reunions with our talented friends all over the country, and we all get the particular pleasure of collaborating on something creative.
An Affair to Remember captivated me with its intensely felt, romantic story. Angels in the Outfield was our first sports-themed piece, and it was full of humor and heart. Then for the holidays at the end of the year, the classic Little Women, which received overwhelmingly positive feedback. We keep working at honing our artistic process for these radio shows and adding more and more production values.
Also, there were more coaching sessions and script consultation gigs than ever before; it’s a privilege to be entrusted with that work. I sincerely strive to be encouraging but honest, and helpful.
It wouldn’t be an accurate picture of 2021 without mentioning all the projects that didn’t come to fruition. It was a year that had its frustrations: productions postponed, scripts read and deemed not yet ready for production or not the right fit for this unusual moment in time, meetings that just didn’t generate that spark that gets a project going.
Johnny Mercer had it right when he insisted we should “accentuate the positive.” None of these projects would have been possible without the blessing of good health, safety, and happiness for my family and myself. Gratitude must be expressed for that.
It always returns to the people in my life. Thank you to everyone I worked with—or worked for—in 2021.