What do theatre pros do when they’re on COVID-cation? Sing epic Broadway tunes, of course!
Aurora Theatre recently got the gang back together to perform “One Day More” from Les Miserables. Featuring cast members from the Aurora’s 2013 and 2015 productions, the actors sang from the comfort of their homes.
Best of Aurora: One Day More from LES MISERABLESFrom Ann-Carol Pence, Aurora Theatre Co-Founder and Associate Producer:A few days after we were asked to close doors and shelter in place, Chris Bartelski called me and said, “What can we do that features a lot of music and hope and joy? I will help you any way I can.” That was followed shortly after by a set of texts from Kelly Martin who said, “OMG can we do a virtual One Day More for Aurora?” This seemed like a great idea because many of you have asked us to stream our old shows, which we simply cannot do. (I will be happy to explain why over a beer.) To know and love Kelly means there will not just be ONE text but a series of texts: “All of the artists stuck at home would love something to do,” followed by “AND it’s a song of hope.” Kelly was right. Our leads sent recordings immediately. Then we added a few of the many incredible chorus members we had the pleasure of working with. Why ONE DAY MORE? 2013 was an incredible season for us. We were able to produce the Atlanta Premiere of LES MISERABLES. We sold more than 10,000 tickets and with a hashtag of #heartfulloflove, we joined together on stage so many artists who became great friends – friends to Aurora, friends to each other and friends to Anthony & me. (30-40-50)One year later, in 2014, as the lights were going down at an Alliance Theatre opening Jeff Watkins (the artistic director of Shakespeare Tavern, a mentor and friend) turned around and said, “You are CRAZY if you don’t remount Les Mis.” So we did! In January of 2015 we remounted the show & sold another 10,000+ tickets. Almost everyone returned and the new friends that joined the cast are just as special to Anthony and me. I turned 50 that year…. And I lost my dad. So this epic show about one man and his impact on the world, a show which ends with a father at his death with his daughter by his side, reignited my passion for theatre. Sometimes, we lose our way. We lose our passion. But then something happens and we are reinspired. Opening our new theatre in 2007 in Lawrenceville gave us a sense of place. Adding an Apprentice Company changed our trajectory. And producing LES MISERABLES with this particular group of people changed our lives. Why? We made the commitment to telling our stories with a culturally diverse community of actors. Kelly also added, “Maybe people who watch would DONATE to the theatre.” So if so called, please renew your season tickets. Or buy season tickets for the very first time. Your support lets us know you believe in us – and you will be back, because friends, we will be back. In 2018, the arts added four times more to the U.S. economy than the agricultural sector and $200 billion more than transportation or warehousing. We are an entertainment economy. (Netflix, movies, music, books, video games and theatre). As is our tradition, we will gather together one day soon. And we will all be joined together in Lawrenceville by a heart full of love. Eternal gratitude to our patrons, our board, our city, and our staff. Together we are unstoppable!Special thanks to Bryant, Kevin, Cecil, Kelly, Leslie, Lowrey, Marcie, Anthony, Stuart, Jono, Jessica, Ally, Robby, Xylina, Shelli, Traci and Ed. (Thanks also to Natasha who would have gladly sung but reminded me she wasn’t in that song.)Kelly’s last text that day, “Tomorrow we’ll discover what our God in heaven has in store!!!” On this the day that the Lord has made – Stay Safe. Stay Healthy. Amen #heartfulloflove #ATLesMis
In a Facebook post about the video, Aurora Theatre co-founder and associate producer Ann-Carol Pence recalls the hope that staging Les Mis in the first place brought to her personally.
Why ONE DAY MORE? 2013 was an incredible season for us. We were able to produce the Atlanta Premiere of Les Miserables. We sold more than 10,000 tickets, and with a hashtag of #heartfulloflove, we joined together on stage so many artists who became great friends–friends to Aurora, friends to each other and friends to Anthony & me.
One year later, in 2014, as the lights were going down at an Alliance Theatre opening Jeff Watkins (the artistic director of Shakespeare Tavern, a mentor and friend) turned around and said, “You are CRAZY if you don’t remount Les Mis.” So we did! In January of 2015 we remounted the show & sold another 10,000+ tickets.
Almost everyone returned, and the new friends that joined the cast are just as special to Anthony and me. I turned 50 that year… And I lost my dad. So this epic show about one man and his impact on the world, a show which ends with a father at his death with his daughter by his side, reignited my passion for theatre.
Sometimes, we lose our way. We lose our passion. But then something happens and we are reinspired. Opening our new theatre in 2007 in Lawrenceville gave us a sense of place. Adding an Apprentice Company changed our trajectory. And producing Les Miserables with this particular group of people changed our lives.
Why? We made the commitment to telling our stories with a culturally diverse community of actors.
If so called, please renew your season tickets. Or buy season tickets for the very first time. Your support lets us know you believe in us – and you will be back, because friends, we will be back. In 2018, the arts added four times more to the U.S. economy than the agricultural sector and $200 billion more than transportation or warehousing. We are an entertainment economy. (Netflix, movies, music, books, video games and theatre).
As is our tradition, we will gather together one day soon. And we will all be joined together in Lawrenceville by a heart full of love.
Eternal gratitude to our patrons, our board, our city, and our staff. Together we are unstoppable!
A theatre aficionado with a passion for telling people's stories, Sally Henry Fuller is a performing arts journalist. She has had the privilege of interviewing both local theatre professionals and multi-award-winning celebrities including Carol Burnett, Matthew Morrison, Vanessa Williams, Josh Gad, and Taylor Hicks. With theatre journalism experience since 2011, her work has also been featured on BroadwayWorld.com, the Huffington Post, and the Kennedy Center's American College Theatre Festival.
