Filling the marquee of the Habersham Community Theater is an eye-catching image of the late actor John Preece. It shows Preece in character as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, a role for which he won national acclaim in a career that spanned over 40 years.
Preece, a professional actor/director who traveled with ten national tours of Fiddler in the U.S. and Canada, appeared in 3,455 performances of the iconic musical. He mostly suited up as the lead, Tevye, but also breathed life into the character Lazar Wolf, the village butcher who fancies one of Tevye’s daughters.
Returning to his roots
Preece prepped for his professional theater career studying voice and theater at Piedmont College. After he retired, he returned to his Demorest roots. In 2017, a play at the local community theater inspired his second act.
“I was looking for something to give my time and energy to that would make a difference,” Preece said in a piece explaining how he got involved with the theater. “As fate would have it, I found myself at HCT for one of their main stage shows, and my interest was instantly piqued by the talent I saw on that stage.”
The transition from audience member to board member was quick, and over the next three years, Preece helped steer the local theater through his insights and talent. He directed HCT’s productions of Fiddler on the Roof, Oliver!, I Do! I Do!, The Sound of Music, and Amahl and the Night Visitors. The seasoned veteran guided many aspiring actors and relished his role in cultivating their talent.
“John took great pleasure in discovering new talent and encouraging it to bloom, asking actors to take his knowledge and perform with excellence,” says HCT President Bob Warren. Preece called his time at HCT rewarding, adding, “The opportunity to give back some of what I have learned over the years has been incredibly meaningful.”
His second act was cut short.
Preece died with COVID on January 19, just days before his birthday. He was 72.
HCT Secretary Lynne Warren calls the week Preece died “one of the hardest weeks of my life.” She paid homage to her friend online, thanking him “for making me laugh, teaching my boys, mentoring me with theater, and spending time with my family. I will love you forever, and you will be greatly missed.”
Fellow HCT actor and friend Mark Watson says Preece was a big asset to the theater and expressed regret he could not visit him in his final days. “You will be missed,” he posted.
Moving on
The bearded actor with a deep booming voice built an army of friends nationwide over his decades performing: Many of them expressed sadness and shock at the news of his passing.
Actress Barbi McGuire of Wisconsin was one of Preece’s castmates in his final Fiddler tour that ran 2011-2012. On his Facebook tribute page, she posted a photo of the COVID-19 memorial in Washington D.C. captioned, “John Preece, one of these lights is for you.”
At the time of his death, the actor turned de facto artist in residence was serving as HCT’s Vice President of Productions. Cast members of the recent Christmas at HCT virtual production fondly recall his admonition for them to “smile” before the curtain closed. His fellow board members recall his desire to keep meetings short, occasionally prodding, “All right, moving on!”
Moving on was something John Preece knew well. For more than four decades, he moved from city to city, sharing his immense talent to audiences’ delight. He then moved into the small historic theater in Clarkesville, entertaining theatergoers and illuminating young artists’ dreams. Upon his death, Preece moved one last time to Illinois to be buried next to his beloved late wife Susie.
John Preece made a living doing what others only dream of, still, looking back over his career, he expressed deep satisfaction with his second act: “While professional theatre has been my career, I am thrilled that I now get to enjoy community theatre here at HCT. As a board member and director, this really is live theatre at its best: People from all walks of life coming together in a local community to perform for their peers. My career is now complete; thank you, HCT!”
To that, we add, thank you, John Preece, for sharing your talents with us.
Rest in Peace.
This article has been updated
