One of the most beautiful things about life is that it is impermanent, each moment is here and then gone.

Sunrise

Sunset

One of the hardest things to do, as westerners and capitalists constantly trying to climb that ladder of success, is to savor each moment and live in it fully.

I know that might sound a little odd.  It also is one of the most difficult things to do; live in the moment trying not to dwell on the past and allowing the future to be what it is.  I think that’s why I’m so drawn to the art of theatre and have made it my life’s work.  Every time I walk on stage there is no telling what will happen.  You are well rehearsed and your skills allow you to know, pretty well but still generally, what will actually take place.

That idea extends to the fleeting opportunities to see a particular event of impermanent moments.  i.e.: How long a show runs that you are interested in seeing. There ain’t no DVR for theatre!  You got to hightail it out there or the chance is gone.

This isn’t just a plug for the show I’m doing… it is that but it is much more.  This is a life lesson I keep trying to teach myself and a lesson I need to learn over and over again.

Every opportunity that arrises to see Tony Bennet in concert I say to myself “he’s a legend, a singer you adore and he’s still here… singing and performing.  Get to that concert and don’t miss a chance to hear him live!”

Did you have a chance and miss it?  How many of you wish you had heard Kurt Cobain before he left us, Ella Fitzgerald, Cat Stevens?… wait he’s still around, but you know what I mean.

This year we lost some incredible artists who made a significant contribution to theatre.  I saw Phillip Seymour Hoffman in A Long Days Journey Into Night but missed his Death Of A Salesman directed by Mike Nichols who we also lost this year.

I don’t mean to be a Debbie Downer…

… we just need to remind ourselves that we need to seize every opportunity that is given us to enjoy life.  I enjoy being entertained and thinking and feeling.  I think you will enjoy this once in a lifetime theatre event of seeing Chita Rivera and Roger Rees starring in the last musical written by Kander & Ebb and Terrence McNally directed by John Doyle and choreographed by Graciela Daniele that will be on Broadway beginning the end of March 2015.

No telling how long this will last, hopefully a long time, but life is life and unpredictable, so do yourself a solid and buy your tickets early and tell your friends.

I just did.  (tell my friends that is, I’m in the show and can’t see it.)

 

I’ll see you at the Lyceum Theatre when you see The Visit!

 

“You be good and I’ll try.”

 

Jason