About one year ago, the world— it seemed—stopped. Since then, it has been something of a battle between the desire to return to what I jokingly refer to as “The Great Before” and the need or desire to move forward into a better “The Great After”.

Against all odds—especially as a performer—I cannot say that this strange year has been entirely a loss. Of course, for the millions who lost their lives or had deaths upend their world, there is nothing but sorrow and compassion, and an obligation to WEAR A MASK and follow other health directives. I do, indeed, like to breathe air without a mask, but the inconvenience is so very little in face of our responsibility to others.

One benefit I sense, in our shuttering/opening/shuttering dance with live events, is the surge of positive energy between performers—never has a mere rehearsal, let alone a performance, felt so special —and the way this energy, like a raging forest fire, jumps the gap from stage to audience.

My fervent hope is that, across this gap, and across this period of “silence”, audiences will feel touched in a new way by the power of live performance!