I recently had the pleasure of going to Dowagiac to see the Beckwith Theatre Company premiere a play I wrote called “Nantucket Sleighride.”

I had written the play my first year at the University of Michigan, and developed it with the Beckwith through their Beckwith/Dogwood Emerging Playwright Award, forming a relationship with their community in the process.

Three years later, it was an exhilarating experience to see my writing on stage in the hands of such talented artists. In my conversations afterward with the actors, designers, stage manager, and director, I realized some truths about the Beckwith I would love to share.

New play development is a sticky, complicated process that frustrates a lot of people. It is incredibly rare that a theatre would take a chance on a young playwright’s foul-mouthed Cape Cod crime comedy the way the Beckwith took a chance on me. It is almost unheard of that they would go so out of their way and fight so hard for it in the process.

And the fact that the theatre has premiered many original works in their 25-year history, along side a full slate of classic plays, musicals, guest speakers and performers, and special screenings speaks to their commitment to a fresh, ongoing, vibrant arts community in Dowagiac. Their level of dedication, understanding and talent is becoming increasingly hard to find in regards to the arts, and it makes me incredibly grateful and proud that they thought to include me in their season this year.

So, for any of you are unaware of the Beckwith Theatre Company, and want to get in on something special (onstage, backstage, or in the audience) I highly recommend you check out their website at http://www.beckwiththeatre.com/ or just stop by to say “Hi” and see what’s coming up next.

In an era where arts funding is routinely cut and people are often deprived of affordable access to live theatre and music, we need institutions like the Beckwith working hard to expose people to the arts and make bold choices, setting an example for the rest of the theatrical community to follow year after year.

Many thanks to the Beckwith’s staff for the production of “Nantucket Sleighride,” director Richard Franz, the cast, the crew, and everyone in Dowagiac who came out to see the show. I hope to see you at the Beckwith soon!

 

Graham Techler

University of Michigan