Opinion: Live Theater Revival, Time To Turn Devices Off and See Local Live Shows

There is no tradition in the world like attending the live theater. The Greeks and Romans built outdoor theaters that still exist thousands of years laters as do many of their plays.

Everybody knows of Shakespeare and his famous plays from the late 1500s; in fact almost everyone can recite perhaps a line or two from one of his plays. Such as, "To be or not to be . . ."

Right now on the East End of Long Island there is a strong live high quality theater culture producing shows all over. In East Hampton there is Guild Hall — "Extinction" there now — then in Southampton there is the Cultural Center, in Sag Harbor there is Bay Street Theater, in Quogue there is the Hampton Theatre Company and, of course, The Montauk Playhouse in Montauk. On the North Fork, the North Fork Community Theatre in Mattituck has a consistently stellar lineup of show.

In the last year alone I have had the opportunity to attend live shows at all these venues and will attest every show was not only good theater, but entertaining and well worth the price of the extremely modestly priced tickets. In fact in some cases ticket price costs are less expensive than going to the movies.

When was the last time you went to a live show? A live show is a great date, it has been for thousands of years. The younger folks many who perhaps participated in "high school" shows need to put down the devices and put together a group of friends and go see a live show. Of course for an hour and half devices must be turned off, perhaps a challenge to those under 30, but well worth it.

At this point in time there are some amazing talented, devoted, and quite frankly underpaid (if paid at all) folks producing these Broadway level shows out east due to their love of live theater. They have a need to do an art many for decades, generations, centuries say is dying. They keep the flickering flame burning. I have had the opportunity to meet a few of the talented and dedicated folks who make live theater happen on the east end. Individuals including Stephen Hamilton, Josh Gladstone, Michael Disher, Joe Pallister, and so many others who have the theater zeal right in their souls.

Back at Pelham High School in the late 60s and early 70s, a classmate named Billy Reichert, was in every show all over Pelham Manor, NY. Billy passed away very young in the 1980s. However, I see him somehow during every performance I attend because when he played the old actor in the "Fantastics", he uttered these closing lines during his final exits, "Mortimar, Mortimar, remember me under the lights!" Capture that magic go see live theater under the lights.