"Isn't that a ton of work, putting on all those productions?"

The people I speak with about doing shows at BDACT almost always ask me, "Isn't that a ton of work, putting on all those productions?" and the answer is always, “Yes!”

Because it is a ton of work, from organizing/blocking the show as the director, memorizing lines, blocking, or choreography as an actor, or keeping everything from coming undone as stage manager. Then you have tech and the rest of the production team, busting their butts, with one goal in mind: giving our community an amazing show!

For our community Beaver Dam, is what keeps us going. Not just from coming out and supporting live theatre, but from things like creating a great energy around future shows, family support, commercial sponsors, and commercial advertising space.

I am currently directing Hedda Gabler, slotted for the last two weekends in February. I have had so many future audience members come up to me telling me how excited they are about the show! Some had questions about how the set was going to look, or how we were going to use some props, and someone told me that they started rereading the play to get excited for the production. I never try to give too much away for what we are all planning for the show, but I love being able to talk about it with people that are excited for its existence.

The buzz/energy it creates around the show is so positive and pure. It really helps drive the show forward. What keeps the show going and stable is the ongoing family/home support most of the people in the show get.

There are a lot of people my age heavily involved at BDACT, we are of the age where you typically have small, to school aged children. To be involved in a show means a lot of help is needed to care for those children. That means spouses, co-parents, friends, grandparents, siblings, etc. are all pulling extra weight, when it comes to the children. Even the kids themselves are doing extra emotional work, without having the parent there as much. I know my daughters are always sad whenever I must leave yet again, for rehearsal. But they all know that it is worth it. They know how much we love and care for what we all do at BDACT, and they, like the rest of the community, love the final result!

Family/community support can come in a lot of ways, even if you do not have children. Chores around the house still need to be accomplished, pets need to be cared for, and life all around needs to be accounted for. Everyone that works with BDACT has someone that helps out. Community support also comes from local businesses, through sponsorships, donations, volunteers and/or advertisement space.

BDACT is a nonprofit, and nonprofits need to have donors and grants just to keep them afloat. Beaver Dam is not short of businesses that love to contribute! We are starting to acquire more sponsors, as well as one time donations from small and large companies alike.

For Hedda, Walmart is sponsoring the show as well as providing paid volunteers to usher and work concessions, for one of the evening performances. We also have Nunatak contributing to sponsor the show. They are also working with us to have our show schedule on the sleeves of their cups. Shout out to Christina Frake and Josiah Villman for that collaboration effort!

Ooga/Great Harvest/Animart owners are always quick to sponsor a show as well as hang posters for the shows! The posters do similar things to people talking about the show. They create a fun energy that gets people excited for the shows. If businesses were not willing to hang a poster or put up a banner sign, we would lose out on all that excitement.

It takes so much more than us working our tails off to put on a production at BDACT. Our community fuels us so we can continue putting out quality performances all year round. By showing up and filling the audience, and by all the not-so-little things you do, Beaver Dam(and surrounding areas) you are the reason we are still here 50+ years strong!

So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you to those who are excited for our plays. Thank you to the families and others who pick up the slack for our volunteers and employees. Thank you to the businesses in our city that support us in every way that you do. Most of us in theatre live for the applause, applause, applause, BUT we need someone to give it to us, and Beaver Dam, you go above and beyond!