I was in elementary school when our local high school was rehearsing a production of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town. As usual, my parents were planning to take me and my brothers to see it. Beforehand, my father sat us down and introduced us to the Webb family, the Gibbs family, and the small town of Grover’s Corners.
We saw the production: a bare stage, dress blacks for costumes, a few chairs, and of course, two plain ladders. At the time, I didn’t understand what the play was really about. How could it compare to the glitz and spectacle of The Wizard of Oz, Les Mis, or other musicals I had seen at that age? What did intrigue me, though, was the simplicity of the way this story was told.
As I grew older, Our Town came and went from my life. I saw it again about ten years later, at the same high school, and that performance became a monumental theatrical experience for me. At the time, I was grappling with the loss of time and leaving friends behind as I moved across the country for college. When Emily cries out at the end of the play, “Do human beings ever realize life while they live it? - every, every minute?” it struck me deeply. Did I ever really appreciate my childhood while I was living it?
That question has become the heart of this production. Through the choices we’ve made, from highlighting everyday objects that hold meaning for the characters, to shifting colors and acting styles as the story progresses, we’ve tried to capture Emily’s realization that life is fleeting and often overlooked. My hope is that this story inspires you, as it has inspired me, to do what the characters of Our Town could not: be present. Hug those you hold dear. Treasure the small, mundane, ordinary moments. Cherish the everyday.
I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the incredible support I have received both inside and outside of Rock Canyon. To Mr. Abner, Mr. Clark, and the rest of the RCHS admin team, thank you for your unwavering support of the performing arts. To my performing arts team, thank you for your encouragement and flexibility with our crazy endeavors. To my family, thank you for always encouraging me in this profession and this art form. And to my wife, Red, thank you for being the other half of my brain and inspiring me every single day to be a better teacher, director, and person.
Finally, thank YOU for being here. Productions like this are only possible because of the support of our community. You and your students have made Rock Canyon feel like home, and I could not be more grateful for that. Now, please enjoy Rock Canyon Theatre Company’s production of Our Town!
Ben Rosen
Theatre Teacher and Director
