March 27th marks World Theatre Day, a day to celebrate art on stage plus the performers and crew that make it all come together.

The Twin Ports is an area that has a lot of theatrical talent in the Northland. Whether performing locally, regionally, or on Broadway, there’s a lot of passion that comes from this region.

“I think that the regional theater here has really gotten a name for itself,” says Mary Fox, the Artistic Director of Zeitgeist Theatre Company. The Duluth Playhouse is experiencing the same thing as well. Executive Director Wes Drummond says, “From my experience in the different places that I’ve been, in a town the size of Duluth, I’ve not seen this much talent before.”

For a lot of actors either growing up or visiting the Twin Ports for school, there were a lot of opportunities to take advantage of in their passion for theatre. Denfeld senior Reagan Kern is just one youth actor who’s going to be perusing musical theatre in college.

“The thing about theater that’s so important, is it just brings joy to people,” says Reagan, “When you’re on stage, you get to make people feel something. You’re the entertainer. When you’re on stage, you’re the escape for someone else’s life. They get to come sit in a theater and they just get to be taken to another world.”

And the myth of the “Theatre Bug” is very real. Jenny LeDoux, who’s currently performing in The Light in the Piazza at the Duluth Playhouse says, “I just remember being struck by the music and the intensity of the music really matched the intensity that I felt in myself as a sensitive little child.”

Check out the professional theatre happening in Duluth:
Boat Club Productions
Broadway at the DECC
Duluth Playhouse
Zeitgeist

Many passionate actors who have spent time in Duluth have gone on to do big things in the industry.

Daniel Durant, the Duluthian actor from 2022’s Best Picture Winner CODA, has also done stage work with California’s *Deaf West Theatre. Proving that anyone with the theatre bug can find a home away from home in theatre.

Reflecting on his first time on stage Durant says, “That was the moment I was in harmony because I could hear the theatre. I was in the building, I could feel the audience and the energy of the audience, And I could feel everyone looking at me to share the story. I just enjoyed becoming the character, acting and working with the different people on the set to create this community to tell the story that I needed to.”

Along with Daniel Durant, one Duluthian and 2 UMD Graduates are working on the Broadway stage.

Sarah Killough (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), Reese Britts (& Juliet), and Pascal Pastrana (The Great Gatsby) all are very thankful for the opportunities that theatre has given them.

“It gave me a voice and an outlet to express myself and to tell stories,” says Britts, “I mean, I was always telling stories when I was younger, and seeing how I’m able to affect people in the audience and make them feel something, that is truly special to me.”

Even though there can be a lot of pretending on stage, Sarah Killough says there’s still a lot of truth in what you see on stage. “What we are looking for…” says Sarah, “is the truth. So you get a scene and you’re trying to find the emotional truth of that scene and something that’s universal because every human has feelings.”

Across all levels of theatre the enjoyment that comes out of performing on stage seems to be universal. “On good days I feel like lighting,” says Pascal Pastrana, “and sharing those moments with your company members on stage it’s thrilling.”

Performing with a cast and finding a second family in the meantime. High school senior Reagan Kern says, “If you have a love for theatre you’re going to find your place in theatre. Even if that’s onstage, backstage, or behind the table.”

“Mostly I’m grateful World Theatre Day exists because it makes us all remember why we do it and why we love it and how lucky we are to have this artform,” says Mary Fox.

*Video Credit of Daniel Durant in American Idiot can be attributed to Deaf West Theatre.