Bob Thompson - Candidate for Member "At Large"

Bob
​Thompson

Bob's Personal Statement

As an actor and 25-year veteran of the DC Metro Community theater stages, I have been a part of many theater company productions. New friends, contacts and experiences grow with each casting, being welcomed into new theater families and then moving on to the next audition and show. But something changed in 2020. I auditioned for and was cast as Monsignor O’Hara in PWLT’s production of Sister Act, the Musical – a true bucket-list role. A very talented cast, orchestra and crew worked very hard rehearsing, singing and dancing for 3 months – only to be shut down on their final dress rehearsal night due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a huge blow for all of us. We left the theater that night fingers crossed with a promise from our director and PWLT that we’d be back, hopeful for the future.

    THIS is where it changed for me. In previous years after a show ended, everyone went their own way, keeping in touch on FB, and occasionally in another show. March of 2020 was a different time – everything was shut down, theaters were dark and ghost lights were up everywhere. THIS is where PWLT shined for me – for all of us involved in Sister Act. Our director, our producers and the board of directors maintained contact with us, almost on a daily basis. Always checking in on our health and well-being, following up with FB group videos and ZOOM chats, funny stories, surprise visits and gifts. The show leads participated as well, with photos of masked up visits and occasional virtual sing-alongs. The concern for its members kept the hope of theater returning and this show alive. 728 days later, Sister Act finally made it up on stage, with some new cast members and so much stronger from the bond that had been formed. THIS caring and personal touch in such a crisis is what made PWLT a TRUE theater family for me and this is what I would like to continue to bring to our members as a PWLT Board Member-at-large.

Bob's Bio

Bob Thompson is an award-winning Senior Designer/Art Director with over 30 years of experience in the marketing and design field. In addition to designing creative campaigns and making client pitches, Bob is also a published cartoonist, an avid photographer and spoiler of Grandchildren and dogs. As mentioned above, his acting career spans over 25 years in shows like Sister Act, Beauty and the Beast, Arsenic and Old Lace, Harvey, To Kill a Mockingbird, 1776 and Calendar Girls to name a few – along with background actor status in TV shows like Netflix’s House of Cards and Amazon’s Jack Ryan. He has also rolled up his sleeves and helped build and paint sets (and strike them), helped with props, costumes and of course marketing and social media.