Since we celebrated with a parade of theater companies in Dallas (Deep Ellum) Texas, I have journaled my own message and  this year I am compelled to share, especially after sitting with Willem DAFOE’s message.  

What strikes me is that I both agree—and don’t fully agree. And maybe that’s the point. For me, that tension is one of the defining qualities of art: it invites each of us to receive something different.

Dafoe names new technologies and social networking as the ‘elephant in the room.’ From where I stand—coming from a generation shaped by the internet—I wonder if, in 20 years, those lines will feel as divided as they do now. I remember when the gap between theatre and film acting felt wider. Today, artists can shape their craft across stages, screens, TikTok, YouTube, and beyond—often without a gatekeeper.

For me, embracing the rise of the internet and social media is what gave Shane-Arts both creative freedom and the ability to authentically connect with audiences around the world.

So I find myself in a place of both excitement and caution.

I am thrilled by the access, the possibility, and the expanded stage that artists now have. And at the same time, I recognize the risks—the ways connection can become fragmented, and presence can be diluted.

Which brings me back to theatre… back to the art and the science of it all, is no matter how much technology advances, some things still stay the same.  

This is a post from last year from Hannah Fry where she explains why Theater and Film Directors and/or improvisational actors make for excellent AI Prompts.  

What makes our talented team so unique in the digital domain is we are all evolving artists on the human adventure, seeking retaining and cultivating audiences and talent to enhance the cultural community.

Thank you for being part of that journey.