I seem to always be taking busman’s holidays.

The term comes from the 1890s in the United Kingdom. It’s the idea that in order for a busman to go on a holiday, they would need to take a bus, thereby engaging in a similar activity to what they do normally. Today the phrase means being away from your work, but doing something that closely resembles your job, anyway.

The last several weeks I’ve been going all over the area seeing shows at other theatres; from other community theatres to touring Broadway shows. As organizations have mostly returned to regular event schedules it’s been great visiting other theatres – of course seeing shows, but also running into friends and colleagues who I haven’t seen for some time.

Those visits serve as a reminder of how important live theatre is for so many people. I hope you take advantage of all the theatre and cultural opportunities throughout the area. There really are so many great things happening, but they can only continue with people like you supporting them with your attendance.

Is a busman’s holiday the best thing for my work/life balance? Probably not. But lucky for you, you’re not me.

See you at the theatre!

Jamie Ulmer

Managing Artistic Director