Pace

“With a fast paced world and wanting to reach and accomplish goals, sometimes we neglect to pause and just enjoy the moment.”  - Paul Millsap

As an NBA player for 16 years, Paul Millsap certainly had his share of seasons filled with preparation, performance and audience interaction. He retired as one of the eight players in NBA history with 500 3-pointers, 1,000 blocks and 1,000 steals. Quite an amazing legacy.

BDACT has been around for 61 seasons, and we’ve seen our share of preparation, performance, and audience interaction as well. Admittedly, directly comparing our wonderful community theatre to a professional NBA career is like comparing apples to firetrucks. However, we can draw some good advice from Paul’s words about pace.

We’ve been adapting to a changing world, passing the torch to new leaders and volunteers for a long time. One stroll through our History Hall will show you how far we’ve come, and how we’ve changed over the decades without losing our core principles.  

Our Vision: Connect, Create, and Transform Together!

Our Mission: Serve the community with enriching and inspirational performing arts. Create an inclusive environment of engaged volunteers with hands-on learning and opportunities on and off stage. Utilize the BDACT Fine Arts Center to foster goals of education, connections, and quality entertainment.

Our Values: Education, Diversity, Inclusion, Growth, Creativity, Sustainability, Excellence.

We advertised this current 61st season as “Our most ambitious season ever!” It has certainly lived up to that so far.

That flurry of activity has been one show after another, back to back, with little to no downtime between productions and concerts. The BDACT Fine Arts Center has been constantly filled with music and set construction noise and rehearsal conversations. Costumes, lights, props, sets, microphones and make-up have been liberally used. The amount of popcorn that we’ve made so far this year has to be some sort of record. The casts, crews, and volunteers have been hard-working. The performances have been wonderful. The audiences have been enthusiastic and supportive. The pace has been hectic!

In the midst of it all, I’ve recently taken a moment to take a breath and reflect. To look back on some truly enjoyable shows that were proposed as potential ideas only a short time ago. To smile when I think about the new people who’ve joined us backstage, onstage, and in the audience. Just the other day I did the quick math in my head and realized the next four shows here (all cast and beginning the rehearsal process), have well over 200 members in their cast and crew lists. There are only a few repeats in those lists, so that means there are hundreds of people of all ages stepping up to help us create the next wave of amazing shows. 

That is in addition to the hundreds who ALREADY participated in the 12 shows and events we’ve experienced so far in 2025.

What a moment this is. I’m pausing to look back and look forward. I’m soaking it all in and taking the time to feel appreciation for so many who’ve brought so much positivity collectively into this community, and personally into my life. It’s truly remarkable and I don’t take it for granted.

It’s definitely been a fast paced world at BDACT. We’ve certainly reached and accomplished many goals.  Now I’m encouraging you to pause and just enjoy the moment. This moment of gratitude for what has been already this year, and the excitement of looking forward to what I’m certain will be marvelous performances of Guys and Dolls, Alice in Wonderland Jr, School of Rock, and Cinderella. These are one-time experiences. Soon, this moment will be a memory. Take the time to enjoy it now, while you can. What a magical place this truly is!

Please visit our NEW website at www.bdact.org for info on auditions and volunteer opportunities, or give me a call at 920-885-6891. I’d love to hear how you have experienced this great season so far!