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Tom Frey

The Empathy Machine: How One 90-Year-Old Theatre Is Embracing Change

Every professional theatre in our country faces an overdue call for change. The Theatre is where we come to learn about the lives of others, to experience cultures outside of our own, to grapple with the bigger questions about who we are as humans. Leaning into this truth, current Peterborough Players Artistic Director Tom Frey talks about the joys and challenges of change, and how the great Empathy Machine that is the Theatre has the potential to be its own savior. 

In 2021, Frey helmed an outdoor summer season for the Players, including an acclaimed production of Our Town, performed in downtown Peterborough, widely believed to be an inspiration for Thornton Wilder's town of "Grover's Corners." He has performed and directed in some of the most respected venues across the United States and Canada. In addition to his position at the Players, Frey is the U.S. resident director of the hit Canadian play 2 Pianos 4 Hands.

Sponsor:
RiverMead