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When the opportunity to realize a dream presents itself, it often comes in the form of a blessing. Aaron Todd Douglas, director of Richard Wesley’s introspective play The Talented Tenth, grasped just such a moment with zeal. “We had discussed the possibility of producing this play for several years,” he says. “Sometimes circumstances just come together and you see your opening and you take it, that’s what happened with this play.” The Cincinnati transplant who now calls Chicago home, is a founding member of the Congo Square Theatre Company. While trained professionally as an actor, he has been directing for five years and adjusting quite well to working behind the scenes. “I work with a great group of actors. You often hear, ‘I’m an actor’s director.’ Very few directors really are ‘actors’ directors,’ but I think I establish a place where [the actors] have the freedom to do what they need to do within the confines of what I need to do as director.” While working on The Talented Tenth, which is built around the story of a man coping with a midlife crisis, Douglas decided to reflect on his personal and professional life. “Anytime you get a chance to look back on yourself at a different point in your life, reexamine, take stock of where you are, your goals and skill set, that’s a plus,” he says. “This play, as introspective as it is, makes me look back on the other projects and look forward [to] future projects.” -tony binns

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