One Singular Sensation
- Scott Russell
- Oct 12, 2015
- 3 min read
One Singular Sensation:
Scott Russell shares his theatre story, about the one singular sensation that embedded the love of theatre in his soul forever.
Theatre has been a major part of my life whether as a performer, which started in the 9th grade performing as George Washington in a typical junior high school production of “Let George Do It” in honor of the bicentennial or as an active audience member. I had the pleasure to perform numerous times in both local and regional productions ranging from “Fiddler on the Roof” to my final professional theatre performance at Tulane Summer Lyric Theater’s production of “Victor/Victoria” as well as singing in many New York cabarets…often times with a few drinks thrown in for courage.
While performing is now a thing of the past enjoying live theatre as an audience member provides for inspiration and a oneness with myself that is hard to describe. It truly is for me a complete “Singular Sensation.” Would love to take credit for that saying but it came about with my first Broadway experience which was seeing “A Chorus Line” and it was an experience that changed me. I had never experienced something with such raw emotion and with music and choreography that was beyond anything I could ever have imagined. For me it felt like it was an experience just between me and the performers on the stage. I was so mesmerized and a bit selfish as I did not want to share it with anyone else. When the finale and curtain call were complete and the house lights came up I could not get out of my seat. Seriously, it was as if I were superglued in a seat that hundreds and sat in before me. I finally did get up and proceeded to walk myself out on to Shubert Alley hardly containing my exuberance of what I had just experienced…transforming me along the way.
In a previous life I had a job that allowed me to travel to New York often. I found a way to see a Broadway show every time I visited. I always went by myself as theatre had become my “Singular Sensation.” I would go to the theatres box office around 3PM in hopes of securing a “single” house seat for that night’s performance and more than not was successful. Seeing shows raging from “Dreamgirls” to “Catch Me If You Can” from “Dancing” to “Miss Saigon,” “Les Miserables” and “Phantom of the Opera” or another life changer for me “Rent”….which I saw three times in two weeks.
Theatre is and always will be a moment in time for me when I forget about everything around me and am transfixed to the actors and scenery that take me on a journey for 2 hours that is hard to explain and share with others. It is my time and today it is not often enough. It did happen recently with Emerald Coast Theatre Company’s production of “Art.” Once again I was by myself and once again as I harken back to the beginning with “A Chorus Line” it was my “One Singular Sensation
Be sure to purchase your season tickets for Emerald Coast Theatre Company’s 2015/2016 season or consider becoming a patron or sponsor so you too can have your “Singular Sensation.”
www.EmeraldCoastTheatre.org
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