A Note from the Director...
Albert Schweitzer once said, “We are all so much together, but we are all dying of loneliness.” Feel free to read that again if you need to. I did a double take the first time I read it. Which, interestingly enough, is about the same way I reacted after my first time through Kate Fodor’s heartbreaking 100 Saints You Should Know. As I devoured the material, I was struck by the poignant themes of longing and connection. Amidst the darkness, there was beauty to be seen in these characters. I resonated Matthew’s longing for human connection, the ability to sit down with someone and just empty yourself to them. Matthew is yearning for human connection, a horizontal relationship built off of trust, love, and the ability to confide in another person.
Theresa, on the other hand, searches for something entirely different. Theresa, after years of sour relationships and reckless emotional ties, searches for a deeper connection with something greater than herself. Even as a Christian artist, I find myself frequently wondering if there’s something out there I’ve yet to discover in my relationship with God. It’s easy for these questions to weigh on the heart and pull us into despair, not unlike the despair we meet Matthew in. Theresa, however, does something really imperative. She seeks answers. Her pursuit of love and connection, while frightening, is a dedicated one. Her heartfelt longing for a vertical connection rings true among all humans, whether they practice a faith or not.
As my team and I have spent time with these people, we’ve truly fallen in love with them. I’m so encouraged by this group’s ability to see all the darkness in these people’s lives and rather than running from them, they are willing to shoulder their burdens with them and tell their story. It is my prayer that the questions asked in this play will lead to impassioned pursuits of answers and, even more, examples.
I can’t think of a better final project with ACU Theatre. This university has provided me with a safe place to build the most incredible relationships of my young life. I’ve been free to openly explore my faith and pursue truth in spite of fear or uncertainty. I don’t have the words to express my gratitude. The people that have walked alongside me through this season, and even just this project, have shown me the power of community and connection. We are all so much together… And, in the darkest times, the times of severe alienation or loneliness, those very relationships have pointed me to the Father. He is my surge of the heart, my cry of recognition and love. What beautiful peace is to be found when the Father and his children love in tandem.
-Matthew Silar
Director
I will always be a huge fan of you and a huge fan of your work, Matt. I'm so thankful to know you. I get overwhelmed with excitement when I think of the ways you're going to change this industry with your artistry and your heart. As a director and leader, you can articulate the connection between faith and art better than anybody that I know, it's a gift that is going to be used in magnificent ways for the theatre community and, most importantly, to further the kingdom. I hate that I'm not there, but I can't wait to see you in less than two weeks! MORE THAN THAT, I can't wait to cast your shows for years and years to come. Love.
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