Theater Addiction–Good!
My mom always told me I stuck out like a sore thumb from the time I was in kindergarten. I think she meant that as a compliment. Lol! She encouraged me to sing and got me dance lessons and all the things that parents do for their kids. I loved it. Singing was always my thing. I loved to dance but singing was really it. I took some lessons as a kid but not until I was in high school. In the meantime, I just sang as much as I could. I distinctly remember singing in Middle and High School. I don’t remember so much from elementary but I am sure I did. I am just getting freaking old and can’t remember that far back. Ha!
Our “middle school” was in the high school. We had kindergarten through sixth grade, then seventh through twelfth grade in high school. I was in every single choir that was available–girls chorus, madrigals, jazz, mixed choir and, of course, in all the school musicals. I will admit I was very competitive and I always wanted the lead, but I hope I took it well when that didn’t happen……FREQUENTLY. A girl could get a complex from all the auditions I missed or bungled and parts I didn’t fit. Wow, that was a rude awakening! It took some time to understand that looks were important for a part not just talent. I am not saying I was all that talented either, I just wanted to be. I was VERY tall and skinny and not the ingenue-type. Plus, I always choked in auditions. Argh! Still do! In High School, I learned the social lessons of theater life. You have to pay your dues. Upperclassmen got major parts before underclassmen. Fair? Well, maybe not always so but it was a good lesson. We can’t always have what we want–when we want it. AND, you have to be willing to work hard and work with all sorts of people. NO DRAMA please! At least I tried but I was still an inexperienced kid. We did Li’l Abner, Once Upon a Mattress and Hello Dolly in my years of high school. Dolly was my dream role and I, luckily, got to play that part. Great memories!
Theater is, without a doubt, not the same in all areas of the country. New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco have some of the best theater rows in the US. However, I didn’t grow up there, nor did I move there. So, what can a kid in Erie, Pa do? The answer–lots! The Erie Playhouse ( one of the oldest and largest community theaters in the nation. Recognized as one of the 10 best community theaters in national competition) has much to offer both adults and children. I wasn’t able to travel the relatively short distance to Erie from home as a kid, so I didn’t get the opportunity to do the children’s theater programs. Then, I got married and had three children which put me a bit behind the ball for shows as an adult.
So how did I get back into theater? Hmm, I was 31 and I did a show at our little church. We did Little Mary Sunshine and I had just a small part. But it ignited a flame in me that my husband probably wishes had never happened. I did another one after that, The Apple Tree. I started searching out other avenues for performing. I really didn’t think I was good enough to do shows at the Erie Playhouse so I looked to community theater instead. I did “The King and “I at a local community theater and got to use my English accent as Anna. After that I did Lil Abner again, as an adult. Finally, I realized that I needed to audition for the playhouse. What was the show? Carousel! I bungled the audition–nerves, but was made a part of the ensemble. That was a learning experience. Through a weird quirk I ended playing a small part–The Starkeeper. It was great. I made some new friends but unfortunately for my husband, I wanted more. So I did another show–What A Wonderful Life–and came to the conclusion that I needed to do music as a career. Hence, going back to school for music performance and education. That audition I didn’t mess up, thankfully. I learned so much and competed in vocal competitions that really built my confidence.
I got involved in dinner theater for the Canterbury Feast and Medieval Feast which allowed me to sing and be funny. It was the best of both worlds. In between dinner theater, I did other shows like The Pajama Game, Nunsense, and Nuncrackers.
Finally, I got my chance at a lead role for the Erie Playhouse! A great little show called My Way, A Tribute to Frank Sinatra!! I got to play Woman one! Woot! Singing jazz was close to home for me. I grew up listening to all the greats at home. From there, I auditioned for other roles…some not what I would have ever thought I could do. I had the opportunity to play Tammy Wynette in the musical about her life called “Stand By Your Man”. It was so out of my experience–country music–but I loved our show and cast. This was followed shortly thereafter by playing Marmee in “Little Women”. In all this, I learned and grew and made friends. My theater friends have always been the friends I have held strong in my heart. We experienced so much together and I appreciate each and every one of them.
So, now I have moved to Arizona. I left behind all my friends and connections. I lasted about 3-4 months before seeking out a show to do. I found theater here much different. Not better or worst–just different. Here, there are many small theater production venues and companies but not one big community theater. Dinner theater is also very different here. But I dug in and started to make my way. Being that I was turning 50 in the year I moved here and I was a teacher, it was appropriate that I audition for a part in Hats!
It was a show about a 49.99 year old teacher who didn’t want to turn fifty. It was a great experience and I got to make some new friends. I looked around some more and found something completely different. A cabaret theater group! I know I am too old to sing all the fun ingenue songs but with this group I could. It is a comedy group of singers who mess around with Broadway tunes. Best of all, it didn’t matter how old I was. Next, I was able to be involved in recording an audio book (Dial L for Latch Key), filming a book trailer (modern Icons), and a CD for a musical competition. All wonderful experiences.
Through some new friends, I found out about and auditioned for a new Melodrama theater.
I found a home! Great people and fun work. I worked with them for a while and have branched out to include some other theater opportunities in the area. I was able to do A Man of No Importance, Christmas My Way, and Working, the Musical with them. One of my favorites has to be “The Great American Trailer Park Christmas” musical.
After that, I directed my own production called Hot Flashes and loved it. I can’t believe all that theater has brought to my life. This is an addiction that feeds my soul.
It is hard to work full-time, be a wife, mother, grandmother and still find the time to do something for myself but if I didn’t do it, I know I would not be sane. Thank you to all my theater friends for helping me reach out and become a better person! Thank you to my family for understanding my needs. I am looking forward to many more years of performing—-I hope.
Contact me at taketimetolivelife@outlook.com