channeled thoughts in different direction

 Abraham Lincoln [1809-1865] went to the theatre more than 100xs during his presidency.

“the king of chefs and the chef of kings”

"Prepare at the table as much of the meal as possible."

- Georges-Auguste Escoffier, [1846 - 1935]

"(I'm) calling myself bad until I be best."
- Richard III

Image source here.

"If all the theatres in the world closed tomorrow, not only would nobody care but nobody would notice."
- Orson Welles

"Never let the truth get in the way of a good story."
- Misattributed to Mark Twain

Epidavros

Best preserved theatre in the ancient world.