Look How Far We’ve Come!

What do dead pigeons, bruises, bats and a cockroach on your neck all have to do with theatre? Well, in my case, it signifies my introduction to BDACT! Wait. It sounds like a downer of a start to a blog but stay with me. It gets better…

It was my first backstage experience during “Hello Dolly”. Those were the days of rehearsing at the workshop on Lincoln Ave., tearing the set down there, packing up the Fletcher truck and hauling everything to the Wisconsin Theater (now Beaver Dam Cinema) in the dark of night after the last movie showing, removing some of the seats to make room for an orchestra pit and an extended stage, then rebuilding the entire set. As a backstage crew member who helped move flats for scene changes, it was commonplace to have to step over a dead bird or two.

My first onstage performance was in “My Fair Lady” in 1976. The makeup room (we used greasepaint then) was up some precarious creaky stairs. The costume changes took place outside in a huge tent that was set up on the grounds behind the theater. It was exceptionally fun if you had a stage right entrance in the pouring rain because that was an outside entrance! My 1978 “Camelot” costume hat having 2 huge “horns” that stuck out like Princess Leia double unicorns, dripping water off them. Sorry to anyone I may have inadvertently poked when I turned my head to get through that narrow doorway, or on my way over the “hot box”, a big metal fixture (most likely part of a furnace) that was backstage right.

But probably my most memorable early experience was during “Applause” in 1979. I had a quick offstage costume change with dressers waiting for me in the wings with sunglasses, a hat, and a big fur coat. They slipped it on me and I went back on stage for my solo. I began “She’s no longer a gypsy…” and that’s when I felt him…a creepy crawly long black bug (we all assume it was a cockroach) making his way up the right side of my neck. I made a flourish of my hand and flung him across the stage. So icky at the time but what a great story now! You’re wondering “AFTER ALL THAT, WHY ON EARTH DID YOU COME BACK?!” Ironically, the musical “Applause” is all about the theatre and why we love it. Lyrics from that show explain why I returned year after year and still remain…

From “Welcome to the Theater” by Strouse/Adams:
Welcome to the dirty concrete hallways. Welcome to the friendly roaches, too.
Welcome to the theatre. My dear, you’ll love it so.

From “Something Greater” by Strouse/Adams:
That lost and empty feeling the nights that you’re not working

That last statement is so true. The hardest part of being in a show isn’t always the
memorizing and rehearsing; it’s the leaving it behind. There’s an ache, a melancholy vacuum that occurs after the run of a show. You become so close to your cast and crewmates as family. But the best part is that we get to do it all over again the next time!

I guess you could say my directing debut came in 1983 when I directed the Tell-A-Tale production of “The Pale Pink Dragon.” We had just purchased the Baptist Church on the corner of N. Spring and E. Third St. “South Pacific”, BDACT’s first summer musical in the Spring St. building, was rehearsing upstairs on stage so we rehearsed (and performed!) in the basement. We hung big blankets and drapes over the windows to darken the area as we performed in the afternoons for the audiences, who sat on folding chairs. There were so many children who auditioned and I wanted to cast everyone, so I had a double cast!

I spent many happy hours in that building from 1983 through 2018. While I never saw a hot box or any dead pigeons or cockroaches there, I did have to duck a few times to avoid the bats. I must be drawn to animals.

What began as an off-shoot of the musical “Working” in 1984 turned into “Take Note”, a troupe of entertainers who sang at many functions over 20+ years, including service organization meetings, Christmas parties, birthday and anniversary gatherings, class reunions, in concert at BDACT, and every year at Bows and Holly. We had a blast singing together almost weekly. So, after being on stage for several years, I thought I’d try my hand at the production end of things.

I was vocal director for “Nunsense”, “Grease”, “Oklahoma”, and “Singin’ in the Rain.” I did some work on costumes, props, set design & painting, etc. The opportunity to work under the direction of amazing mentors like Doug Klitzke, David Proctor, Earl Ritter, Jim McMillan, etc. provided me with the confidence to attempt to write and direct my own show.

Which brings me to our upcoming biennial production of IN HEIN SIGHT – HAVE SHOW, WILL TRAVEL. This was a brainchild of mine while I was still teaching, thinking it was a retirement pipe dream. Until I met with my dear friend and mentor Nancy Zieman. I explained my idea to her and she ran with it, giving me all kinds of suggestions, including offering her studio to record! However, I needed a bigger venue. This happened to coincide with the theatre’s plan for fundraising for our beautiful new building. So, I approached David Saniter at BDACT (the business manager at the time, who has recently returned to that position) to see if he thought there would be interest in a variety/talk show. I don’t think I finished my sentence when he jumped at the idea and thought it was a great fit for the fundraising effort as well. And so here we are. This is my 5th episode of IN HEIN SIGHT, and I’m back with my same Dream Team over the years. As long as they keep coming back, I guess I’ll keep doing it!

IN HEIN SIGHT has something for everybody – comedy, music, fun costumes, an amazing set, super nice people, and a return to simpler times. We do this because we secretly love birds, bugs, and bats. NO! Because we love to make people happy and use our talents for the good of the community. We need you at our performances! Without our audiences, we have no show. There’s always a place for you to volunteer, as well. So, I personally thank each of you for attending our shows and supporting this wonderful organization. I will forever be grateful to the founding members of BDACT. It has been a lifeline for me for over 50 years. Long may it reign!