Roswell native returns to direct Forbidden Broadway at Georgia Ensemble Theatre

Some people claim to be bitten by the acting bug. Don Farrell had the desire to perform knocked into him. In 8^th grade at Roswell High School he went out for football but signed up late. Once on the field and was hit hard, his ill-fitting equipment offering little protection. With the wind knocked out of him and his helmet askew Farrell reconsidered his motivation for playing football. Someone suggested he join the chorus.

Farrell who was born in North Carolina and moved to Roswell in first grade had received compliments on his voice so he gave chorus a try. Soon he was encouraged to try out for the upcoming musical at the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Farrell cites Ira Pittman, Carla Crowell and Mary Smith all of Roswell, along with his parents as early and strong supporters of his music and acting. In addition to performing the fun, social and team aspects of participating in musical productions appealed to Farrell.

While active in chorus and church musicals Farrell attended a company event with his dad who worked for IBM. Performers from Northside School of the Arts (later renamed Northside High School) provided the entertainment. To him they seemed like professional singers. Later his Mom saw an article in the AJC announcing tryouts and encouraged him to apply. Farrell transferred to the performing arts school for his senior year. After that? New York, of course!

A member of Actor’s Equity Association since 1992, Farrell has worked as singer, dancer, actor, director, choreographer and producer. “When you’re an actor you learn to play all the roles in order to pay the bills,” says Ferrell who enjoys both the collaborative process as a director and the freedom to create as an actor.

While living in New York and performing across the country, Farrell was cast as “Danny” in the musical “Baby.” A fellow actor, Judy Fitzgerald played Danny’s wife “Lizzie.” Legend has it that actors cast as Lizzie and Danny most often end up as a couple in real life as well as on stage. Farrell and Fitzgerald are now married and have a daughter named Lizzie.

After 9/11 in New York Farrell says that he more deeply understood the role of theatre in helping people heal. “It’s like religion,” he says. “Theatre has the power to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.” Looking for a smaller town in order to have a greater impact on the theatre community, Farrell and family moved to Fitzgerald’s home town of Carmel, Indiana where they founded the Actors Theatre of Indiana. Farrell serves as Producing Artistic Director with Fitzgerald as Artistic Director.

For the month of April Farrell is happy to be back in Roswell visiting with his parents while he directs Forbidden Broadway Greatest Hits: Vol. 1 at the Georgia Ensemble Theatre through April 24^th This funny musical revue is “the Saturday Night Live of Broadway,” Farrell says. “It’s a fun, feel-good show that allows you to lose yourself in laughter.”