4 | JANUARY 21 - 27, 2022 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
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4th Wall Stage Company eyes returning to the stage Richard Duckett Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK
It has been well over two years since the 4th Wall Stage Company took to the stage with a live, in-person production. A lineup of shows for the fi rst part of 2022 was going to change all that, but the dates have been changed as the geometric rise of the Omicron COVID-19 variant has rearranged plans. However, Barbara Guertin, managing director of 4th Wall, is keeping the faith. “I do believe in our uncertain times people need an escape,” she said. “People want to get out of their homes and see shows again.” During a recent visit to New York City she went to the theaters, which “were packed,” she said. “There were so many standing ovations in the middle of shows it was so heartwarming.” Returning to Worcester, she said, “No way we’re not going to do a show.” In October 2019, 4th Wall had kicked off its eighth season with “Naughty Bits,” a bit of a romp in collaboration with Lowell’s Image Theater whose popular “Naughties” show is a collection of provocative, humorous and outrageous original skits and songs. Performed by members of both companies, “Naughty Bits” added “some extra Woosta spin” when it was staged at Fiddler’s Green as a fundraiser for 4th Wall. Co-
Barbara Guertin, managing director of 4th Wall, is pictured in 2019 discussing a scene in “The Women who Mapped the Stars” during a dress rehearsal at the Worcester Historical Museum. STEVE LANAVA/T&G FILE PHOTO
median Cindy Gray was host. 4th Wall was going to get serious with its next scheduled show for 2019-20, playwright Anna Ziegler’s “Photograph 51,” which tells the story of Rosalind Franklin, the English
chemist whose work led to the discovery of the double helix structure of the DNA molecule. The problem was that Franklin never received the credit she was due. The play was to have been presented by the 4th Wall
Stage Company for eight performances beginning March 19, 2020, at the Worcester Historical Museum to celebrate Women’s History Month. “We never did get that off the ground,” said Guertin, who
would have directed “Photograph 51.” The production was and remains a victim of COVID. “We think we’re gonna have See STAGE, Page 5
