On Sunday night, I attended a farewell event at Live Arts for departing artistic director John Gibson. The evening included comments from recent and longtime Live Arts performers, directors and contributors that touched on the theater’s involvement in, among other things, local dance, reimagined musicals, new work, the African-American community, and the community at large. (Comments ranged from lengthy to improvised to scripted to, in one instance, very, very brief.) Throw in a Paul Simon sing-along to "The Only Living Boy in New York" and an accordion processional to an afterparty, and you have a community theater send-off.
On the occasion of Gibson’s departure (and the arrival of the new guard), I think Live Arts’ commitment to all the areas mentioned above and more deserve revisiting. Two decades in, how has Live Arts’ place within and connection to our community as a whole changed? Leave your thoughts below, after pictures from the event.
Sara Holdren, Amanda McRaven and Doug Schneider (from left) talk musicals.
Jennifer Hoyt Tidwell performs a complete and abridged history of new work at Live Arts.
Zap McConnell and Katharine Birdsall discuss Live Arts’ commitment to movement and dance.
John Gibson (right) gets the Simon serenade onstage.