Nicholas Lacroix ’21 arrived at Merrimack in 2017, with a love of theatre and a dream of going into the field of radio production. During the fall of 2017, Lacroix was cast in the show Edwin Drood. He had an amazing experience, which led him to continue auditioning and making connections with theatre folks at the College. He later declared himself a double major in Theatre Arts and Communication & Media.
Since graduation, Lacroix still finds the time to join theatre around the area. Most recently, his on-stage involvements include Lowell, Massachusetts Dramatically Incorrect’s production of Avenue Q, where he filled the role of Brian, as well as new off-stage leadership roles.
In Spring 2023, Lacroix was invited back to Merrimack College to be the assistant director for the OnStagers production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridge. Working alongside Associate Professor Kathleen Sills, Lacroix said that he was extremely excited about the opportunity. He said Professor Sills’ passion and love for theatre is tangible and she is “one of the greatest theatre minds [he] has ever experienced.”
Lacroix also said Prof. Sills’ professional directing style is one that he finds inspiring. “Good directors work with the cast and put the show together, not bark orders,” Lacroix said. “Like a coach in sports, they talk with the people and help improve with what they’ve done.”
Copying Sills’ style, though incorporating his own twist, he was ready to use it at Merrimack for the fall 2023 semester. The OnStagers staged reading show, And Then There Were None, was Lacroix’s first time solo directing a production. Written by Agatha Christie, this mystery whodunnit told the story of 10 different characters and their plight on Soldier Island. Once there, they were all accused of killing someone, but there was only one true murderer. As people fell left and right, they needed to work together before it was too late. Calling it the “Knives Out of the 1940s,” Lacroix said this mystery had a twist that left audiences thinking for days after.
From all of us at VPA: “Bravo!”
