“There has always been a problem with reviews of community theater productions. While the quality of the productions under scrutiny can vary widely from very, very good to very, very bad, community theater reviews always seem to err on the side of caution.”

‘To the community theatre that shaped me: Thank you. Thank you for taking me when I was little and had no idea of who I was and being with me as I figured it out.”

Many of us work full-time jobs, what I refer to as a vocation to support our avocations. I can’t tell you how many times people ask me after seeing a show or hearing I am in a show, “How much do you get paid for doing this?” Of course, in community theatre, the answer is nothing. The look of surprise on their faces is astounding.

“Last night or yesterday afternoon, you finished your final performance of a show. You had an incredible run, the cast was fantastic, and the performances were some of the most memorable times of your life. But now you're miserable, and you know this weekend will only get worse.”

“Having been involved in community theatre for over 40 years…yes, I admit it and do it proudly….I have personally seen this wonderful genre from multiple sides. As an actor, producer, stage manager, director….I have seen it. And the benefits that have been reaped have contributed to many aspects of my life, socially and privately.”

“To find a theater group with a healthy dynamic undoubtedly means to find a second home.”

“Dear Evan Hansen is set to open at the Manoa Valley Theatre in Honolulu on March 7th. Despite the rights not being available, people associated with the theatre state that they were granted permission to perform the show, because it’s Hawaii.”

“It’s completely okay for actors to turn down roles, and directors need to be mature enough not to punish them for it down the road.”

“A community theatre in Arizona is facing backlash today over canceling a show due to a complaint of racial discrimination over the removal of a non-Mexican-American performer cast in a role written for that heritage.”

“Folks, most of us in community/school theatre know this, but please be honest when letting a director know that you’ll accept any role. It can be a huge help in casting a show and throw an enormous kink into it if someone is lying about that.”

“This Thanksgiving, I am overwhelmingly grateful for all of the wonderful artists I’ve worked with this year, most of all those who have donated their time and talents to the pursuit of making art. Don’t forget to give thanks for everyone who makes community theatre possible.”

“In such situations, theatres might find themselves at the mercy of political decisions that may not necessarily align with their artistic and community-driven goals. This vulnerability compromises the artistic integrity of local theatres.”