1. What was the FIRST play you ever saw?: “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.” It was a junior high school production. I was in the seventh grade and was hooked for life.  The first professional production was “The Sound of Music” in Milwaukee. Again I was in junior high.

2. What makes you LAUGH and CRY in a theater?: LAUGH?-Physical comedy with well executed split-second timing is hard to beat. CRY?- Stories of non-understandable harships. Like Job,”Why Lord?”

3. Who is your favorite THEATER ACTOR?: James and Rose Pickering are favorites at the Milwaukee Rep.  And Deborah Staples.  Ray Jivoff at the Skylight.  And any teen that tackles a role in a high school production.

4. Has theater ever CHANGED your perspective? Your life?: Theater can unexpectedly lift my spirits when I’m in a poor mood. It can also make me stop and reconsider my point of view. It may not change my view, but it will make me stop and consider other aspects that I’ve not previously considered.

What is your FAVORITE PLAY? Where did you see it? Why is it your favorite?: The Milwaukee Rep mounted the English Mystery Plays back in the early 1970’s. It was magical. I certainly knew all of the Bible stories, but the “life” they put into them and the wonderful stage craft was fantastic. I was a regular usher there at the time. And I was in the habit of taking dates (girls and their parents were very impressed when I invited the girls to “The Theater”. I wouldn’t tell the girl we would be ushering until we arrived at the Todd Wehr Theater.) I enjoyed the English Mystery Plays so much I went twice- two different dates.

A very close second would be “Our Town” put on as a collaboration between the Rep and the National Theater for the Deaf. Each character had two actors, a regular speaking player and one that signed. Instead of being confusing, it gave a whole new perspective to language.

6. Why THEATER?: It’s live, immmediate, intimate. You can’t get that in a movie, even if it’s in a lush, big screen movie house. The most powerful stories are oftent the “little” ones. The ones that deal with relationships, with ethical struggle, with indecision. Live theater captures that best. It is best suited to teach how to deal with conflict and its resolution. Or its great cost when it can’t be resolved.

This post was submitted by Tom Dunigan.