HIGHLAND LAKE, NY — It’s often said that every cloud has a silver lining. In the case of Kari Margolis, artistic director of the Margolis Method Center Int’l and the co-founder and artistic director of MB Adaptors Company (MBAC), the recent COVID-19 pandemic served as the genesis for her book, titled “Walking the Artistic Path.” 

The book is described as “A director’s musings and practice for putting our best foot forward in the absurd, heartfelt, often hilarious and consistently profound intersection of life and theatre.” It’s composed of “Kari’s personal stories, professional wisdom and deep enduring passion for the performing arts,” perfect for “aspiring and seasoned actors and theatre enthusiasts alike.” 

On Sunday, June 29, she presented an introspective reading at the company’s headquarters in Highland Lake, just across the street from the North American Cultural Laboratory (NACL)—another hub of local artistic and experimental expression.

Margolis presented an intimate and introspective reading from “Walking the Artistic Path,” focusing on excerpts selected from several chapters: “Humiliation and Gratitude,” “the first thirty seconds of my professional career,” “Moon Shine,” “knowing the next time I’ll raise my hand,” “Stop!” and “a roadside diner serves up more than tuna salad sandwiches.”

“I started writing ‘Monday Musings’ at the suggestion of company member Angela Kiser, as a way to stay connected to our audience through the written word when we couldn’t hold live performances and events due to COVID,” explained Margolis. “My goal was to inspire people during a dark time and offer them a way to enjoy the tiny details in life that are often overlooked, by seeing the world through the lens of a theatre artist.”

So for almost three years, every Monday she sent a “Musing,” “part autobiographical, part fantasy and part theatrical exploration and study” to the mailing list.

“The reaction and feedback were such that I was the one who, in the end, was receiving great inspiration,” thus sowing the seeds for the book.

Margolis said the book is structured as a metaphorical year divided into the four seasons, each one encompassing a poetic concept: Spring includes musings about new beginnings, Summer’s musings explore time, Fall looks at transitions, and Winter explores stories about going inward.

Signed copies of “Walking the Artistic Path” are available at MBAdaptors.org/book.  Profit from sales goes to creating scholarships for artists to participate in Margolis Method training programs.

The MB Adaptors’ next production is “Flight,” directed by Margolis, and is scheduled for the weekend of Friday, August 7 through Sunday, August 9. Performances are Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. “Flight” will be staged at 111 Highland Lake Road.