None of us thought this day would ever come, when theatre is literally shut down across the country. Other than two productions in the Berkshires (Godspell, and Harry Clarke by David Cale) I don’t know of any other professional productions of plays (that have been approved by Actors Equity,) that have been brought to life since mid March 2020 in the United States. I know in Spain, Poland, England and a few other places, some theatres have opened with social distancing and more, but how is that really working?

Incredible Images of Theaters Preparing For Life After Lockdown https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/g32937544/theaters-reopening-coronavirus/

Barrington Stage Company https://barringtonstageco.org/distancing/

Small town venues and theatres reopen with social distancing in mind https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/video/2020/07/13/small-town-venues-theatres-reopen-with-social-distancing-mind/

A play is a joyous event. Sitting 6 feet away from masked individuals, fearful of a coughing or sneezing fit from a fellow patron 6 feet away is not my idea of fun. Yet, as playwrights, we MUST stay positive, and continue to focus on writing our best work, in a world basically devoid of live theatre.

19 years ago, I went to see Lobby Hero by Kenneth Lonergan Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons on 42 St in NYC.

The play is about a doorman who betrays a confidence, and then all these terrible things happen because of it. When I left that theatre that day, I said to myself “ My God, Ken, you can never betray a confidence ever again. If someone asks you to keep a secret, you have to keep that secret.”

That day, I was changed because of a live story, a play.

So in this Brave New World where tempers are flaring unexpectedly, where our politicians can’t have a civilized conversation leading to a productive solution even to save lives, where most people are either living in fear or living in denial, we have to be ready as playwrights, as artists, and as compassionate human beings, for our stories can move mountains, inspire, and effect change better than any political debate, or legislative measure.

We have been given this magical transformational power of storytelling, and this pandemic is a call to action like never before.

This is our time to write, so when the time comes, we can be a part of the productive solution with our plays.

Let’s get to work!

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