It was a total thrill and privilege to watch my classmate Pascale Armand and the company in Reopening Night on HBO Max. I was lucky to be in the same class as Pascale at the NYU Graduate Acting program. She has always brought joy, humor, and extraordinary artistry to every project and process.
I was also lucky to be in the first Shakespeare Lab at the Public Theater in 1995 and then in Shakespeare in the Park in 1998, in Andrei Serban’s production of Cymbeline. So seeing the return to Shakespeare in the Park was inspiring, even as the company pushed against the rain to completely triumph in bringing live theater back to the park. Seeing Black Joy celebrated in the Delacorte – and hearing from company members who have had bad experiences there in the past and the steps towards equity for them offered by this experience – were all heartening, especially in this challenging moment for theater.
Pascale – To see you again in rehearsals and performances was a complete, utter joy. Your laughter during the costume parade brought back such wonderful memories. I love you. All love to the whole company. Congratulations on such a work of magic.
