I have the theatre bug for a long time, but it really caught up with me in the summer of 2006. I had volunteered for sometime with the Foothills Theatre, but never been in a production. When I saw the summer production of Beauty and the Beast I just knew I had to get more involved. I love plays and have seen a few on Broadway and other venues. I adore the huge productions, the lights, the glitter, the glamour! But, there is something to be said for small town theatre. It’s amazing what you can do with cardboard, paint and a few local seamstress with special talents. So, in the summer of 2007 I took my first ensemble part in Big: The Musical. I can’t carry a tune in a bucket, but fortunately we have some pretty good talent in our local group and I was really just needed to be an extra body on the stage. After that production, I was hooked. This winter I auditioned for the Radio: T.B.S. the Foothills Theatre dessert production. I had seen the talented people in our area and I was nervous about auditioning. Imagine my surprise and pleasure when I was chosen to play Dixie Mandrell, radio hostess and society doyenne of the Luna del Mar Manufactured Home Oasis & Monkey Emporium. The show is an absolutely hilarious chronicling of the lives of the ladies who reside in this not-so-posh development in central Florida. Being a part of this show was an amazing experience. As with Big, I had an opportunity to meet some great new friends. The camaraderie is one of the best parts of community theatre. Entertaining the audience is another great part. I was so touched and awed by all the wonderful comments from the audience after the show. I was so moved by all the praise I got. I hope it doesn’t sound too vain, but it is quite an amazing feeling to be told how great you are at something. Several family friends insisted that they were not being biased when they said I was the best one in the show. The director, in fact, told me that I need to keep doing theatre b/c I’m really good at it. Most of all though, it was just fun! I will definitely be taking the director’s advice. This summer we’ll be gearing up for Fiddler on the Roof!
The downside is, all good things must come to end. I am sad now that the show is over. But, I have some great memories.
