“You are not alone.” That was the final message of a powerful and personal performance delivered by Emporia native Dru Rutledge, who presented her newest one-woman show to friends and family Saturday evening.
The performance titled “Good Grief Dru Rutledge” explores the interconnectedness that stems from grief and was born out of a tumultuous time in Rutledge’s life that began with the passing of her “biggest fan.”
Rutledge acknowledged the sorrow and fear that year brought to her life. But also, she recognized the “bright spots” that followed, including being “swept up” in kindness and love by her community of friends and family.
While speaking with KVOE News and during Saturday night’s performance inside of Good Way Gardens, Rutledge stated that being on the stage and detailing this journey was a scary experience. However, she explained that “doing things through the scared” has been an important part of her healing journey.
Rutledge, a lifelong performer, told her story and experience in the way of a true performer, by blending personal stories with humor and her world-class musical talent. A classically trained opera singer, Rutledge’s song selections were a blend of well-known show tunes as well as many of her mother’s favorite songs.
As mentioned earlier, Rutledge’s performance not only detailed her own experiences with grief, but also connected the audience with her by providing them an opportunity to honor their loved ones who had passed by the signing of stars that adorned the stage and the sharing of photos that played an important role in the performance’s climax. Following her performance in Emporia, Rutledge says the next year will be spent continuing to refine and further share the show with audiences around the country, saying it is a “new thing” she looks forward to continuing to explore and expand.
Rutledge, who is currently based in Portland, Oregon, holds a Master’s degree in Opera Performance and two Bachelor’s degrees in both Vocal Performance and Theatre. Rutledge is a nationally renowned performer, having starred and been featured in various productions, including the starring role of Amalia in She Loves Me, for which she won a Drammy Award for Leading Actress in a Musical in 2015.
In addition to her time on stage, Rutledge serves as a vocal coach and has studied performance around the world, including Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Mexico, and South Korea.
