Darryl Maximilian Robinson Shares An Obituary For An Old Stage Friend

AN OBITUARY FOR AN OLD STAGE FRIEND: This commentary is in regards to the talented actor, singer, producer and playwright David J. Harris, who passed away at the age of 64 in St. Louis, Missouri in January of 2023. I had the great pleasure of working with Mr. Harris in the Theatre during our youth, when we performed as Student Guest Actors for The Drama Dept. Of Chicago's Josephinum High School for Girls in the Wicker Park neighborhood of The Windy City during the 1970s in productions of "Fiddler On The Roof" and "My Fair Lady". David J. Harris was an enthusiastic young actor whom I would also have the pleasure of working with in shows presented by The Windy City's multiracial youth ensemble, The Chicagoland High School Theatrical Troupe, also during the 1970s ( under the expert guidance of skilled, veteran arts educators and working professionals J. J. Stamm, Nick Jason, Errol Perlman and Irving M. Stein among others ), with whom he appeared in such roles as Lt. Brannigan in "Guys And Dolls", Howard Benedict in "Applause", Henry Albertson in "The Fantasticks" Mr. Welch in "Damn Yankees" and J. B. Biggley in "How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying". By the 1980s, Mr. Harris was working under a non-union professional summer stock contract ( acting and performing for Producing Director Jill Stover and Artistic Director Dr. Jeffrey P. Koep ) at The Enchanted Hills Playhouse of Syracuse, Indiana, and impressed theatregoers with his portrayals of Marcellus Washburn in "The Music Man", Max Detweiler in "The Sound of Music" and Duke Orsino in Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night," amongst other roles. To my recollection, Mr. Harris also starred in the title role of The Kuumba Theatre Company of Chicago musical for young audiences "The Tiger Who Wore White Gloves" at The Chicago Loop's historic Pakula Building during the 1980s, and as a serious dramatic actor, also worked on productions with respected Chicago Theatre Artists Director Gerald H. Bailey and Playwright Jeffrey Wayne Helgeson ( of The "Collage" Trilogy ) on play projects. Mr. Harris also performed featured classical roles with The Indianapolis Shakespeare Festival at The Garfield Park Amphitheatre, and to expand his employment opportunities as a performer, developed his own solo singing act. David J. Harris worked as a play director in Chicago and St. Louis, a theatre reviewer in St. Louis, and during his extended time in The Gateway City ( from the 1990s through the 2010s ), as a playwright ( noted for his drama "A Horse Of A Different Color" ), an artistic director, a producer and as The Founder of The Monarch Theatre Project ( MTP ) in St. Louis. A versatile and gifted creator, lover, and supporter of The Performing Arts, David J. Harris will be missed by his fellow artists who loved his work and loved working with him.
NOTE: In the photo included, adorned in a straw hat, the late and talented Mr. David J. Harris appeared as Marcellus Washburn opposite the late and talented Mr. Daniel B. LeMonnier as Prof. Harold Hill in the 1982 Enchanted Hills Playhouse of Syracuse, Indiana revival production of Meredith Willson's acclaimed classic American musical "The Music Man".

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