Last year, Mark Durrant, a much loved family man and member of the Maplewood Barn community was killed in a tragic car accident. A little over a year later, Mark’s wife, Leslie Durrant, is choosing to honor her husband by making her theatrical debut in the production of Camelot, showing thru September 5th on the Maplewood Barn stage.
We as a theatre community have chosen to memorialize Mark by naming our stage the Mark Durrant Memorial Stage. The president of the Maplewood Barn Board of Directors, Michael Scott, made the announcement to a full house on Saturday night before the show. Leslie and Mark’s three daughters, Rachel, Diana and Allegra along with other family members, were in attendance to share the honor. Later Byron Scott, co-director of Camelot, talked about his memories of Mark over the 8 shows that they had done together, spanning from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest to Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Mark had a charm about him and touched so many with his good nature and glowing smile that has made him unforgettable to those lucky enough to have known him. As Byron Scott said, Mark was the model actor. He was always ready to do anything and everything, and possessed a huge, booming voice that is necessary out at Nifong Park.
Plans are now being outlined to rebuild after a fire destroyed the Maplewood Barn in April. When the Barn is rebuilt, Mark’s stage will come with us and there will be a formal dedication, but on Saturday it was our honor to share our memories of Mark with his family and the rest of the barn community, to which Mark gave so much.