The Community of Creatives

Lots of projects to update you on, but I'm going to take this blog in a different direction today. Over the weekend the Chicago theatre community was dealt some pretty heavy blows with multiple surprise deaths. One of them, I admit, I did not know, but one was a friend. She was vibrant and loving and one of those people you consider yourself lucky to know. These are only the most recent two deaths in a string of unfortunate losses of this community. My friends are in shock and pain, as am I.

I'm also dealing with this over 9,000 miles from the rest of my grieving friends. That means that most of the hugs and tears are shared through social media and phone calls, rather than in person. It has giving me a strange chance to witness the sheer power of this community and how it really lives up to the claim that the Chicago theatre artists are a family. They've come together in a brilliant show of love and astounding compassion. I can't find the words to describe the sheer power of thousands of messages pouring out all sharing a similar sense of confusion and loss in addition to the joy in the privilege of getting to know Molly. It's a bit overwhelming, but never have I been so convinced that this is a family and even though I don't know everyone in it, I am ever so lucky to be a part of it. 

This Thursday, I have been told, theatres across Chicago will be dimming their lights for these amazing people. I may not have a theatre here in Sydney to do the same, but I will be lighting a candle