In a testament to the resilience of Broadway amidst crises, College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) alumnus Todd Almond has penned a memoir reflecting on the trials and revival of live theater during the COVID-19 pandemic. The book titled Slow Train Coming: Bob Dylan’s Girl from the North Country and Broadway’s Rebirth delves into the firsthand account of an actor navigating the uncertainties and eventual resurgence of the performing arts scene. In a discussion with CityBeat, Almond shared insights from his journey, particularly during the tumultuous times when the industry came to an abrupt standstill.
Almond's memoir captures the excitement of a Broadway debut and the subsequent void left by the shutdown. His role in Girl from the North Country marked a significant milestone, not just in professional terms but also in bringing the music of Bob Dylan to life on stage. “It’s a piece of theater that has a lot of music in it,” Almond told CityBeat. “Just for the sake of ease in conversation, I say I was in a musical called Girl from the North Country, but … it doesn’t quite line up with the rules of what is a musical.” Despite its unique nature, the production faced significant hurdles when the pandemic forced entertainment venues to close their doors swiftly after the show's promising start.
The book strongly revolves around the themes of hardship and triumph, chronicling the experience of bringing a large-scale production like Girl from the North Country to fruition amid a global crisis. This narrative includes the moments leading up to the opening night on Broadway, the surreal period during the theater blackout, and the eventual revival, which saw Almond return to the stage to deliver what the Hollywood Reporter described as an "uplifting in every sense" performance of Dylan’s “Dusquesne Whistle.”
Speaking of the show's deep emotional connection with audiences, Almond and his fellow cast members looked upon their performances with reverence, somewhat akin to a religious gathering. "There were readings, there were homilies, there’s humanity and then there’s hymns,” he elucidated in his interview with CityBeat. This expression of art served as a balm for many, offering solace when the world outside the theater was anything but certain.
The path from a CCM graduate to a Broadway actor, playwright, singer, composer, and now author, paints a picture of Almond as an embodiment of artistic versatility. His memoir, however, does more than highlight his journey; it offers a glimpse into the collective spirit of an industry fighting to keep the stage lights on against unprecedented odds. In doing so, Almond's account becomes not just his own, but a shared narrative of resilience within the vibrant community of Broadway.
.jpg){kind=link}