VALDOSTA — If all the world’s a stage, it certainly can be a small one.
Just ask Damron Russel Armstrong, guest director of Peach State Summer Theatre’s “Once On This Island,” which opens this weekend.
The New York-based actor’s next gig is in Europe. He’ll leave Valdosta this weekend, audition for shows in New York early next week, and fly off to Vienna Wednesday.
So, how did he find himself directing a show in Valdosta?
It was one of those situations where he has a couple of friends who are no strangers to the South
Georgia-based professional theatre company.
You, see it really is a small world after all.
Several years ago, when what would become PSST! was a summer theatre company on Jekyll Island, Armstrong attended two shows directed by a friend. That friend, Jeremy Fenn-Smith, directed “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” and “Annie Get Your Gun.”
That was Armstrong’s first introduction to the folks who would one day run PSST!
More recently, Armstrong worked with Matthew McGee’s Florida theatre company. McGee is a Valdosta State University Theatre graduate with strong ties to PSST! McGee directed last year’s live production of Disney’s “Aladdin.” In past PSST! seasons, McGee performed as the emcee in “Cabaret,” the Cat in the Hat in “Seussical,” and Toad in “A Year with Frog and Toad.”
Seeing Armstrong’s performances in “Kiss Me Kate” and “The Full Monty” and knowing that PSST! was seeking a guest director for the Caribbean-flavored fairy tale of “Once On This Island,” McGee suggested to both parties that Armstrong was the man for the job. Especially, since Armstrong has worked with “Once On This Island” previously.
Following months of performances in the national tour of “Raisin in the Sun,” Armstrong arrived May 30 in Valdosta. As guest director, he was in the odd position of having the show cast prior to his arrival, but he was pleased with the choices.
During the past few weeks, he’s led an intense series of rehearsals. The show opened Friday night and continues this evening. And with the show in performances, Armstrong’s work is finished.
He returns to his home in New York for a few days attending auditions, hoping to land a show for the fall and perhaps longer. He flies to Europe for several weeks of performing his one-man show. Traveling place to place, and always staying one step ahead, is the life of the working theatre person, he said.
“You get used to it,” Armstrong said. “It’s the beast of burden of being self-employed. Anyone who is self-employed always maintains that attitude of, what’s next?”
What’s next is usually helped by maintaining friendships and contacts, and having a willingness to be on the move.
Yet, no move is too far when all the world’s a stage.
Local News
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Damron Russel Armstrong guest directs Peach State Summer Theatre’s latest musical, 'Once On This Island,' opening this weekend.
Discussion
New York actor directs latest PSST! show
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