Directors' Notes

When I pitched Mission: Improv-able to BDACT, I had no idea what I was doing. Classic improv. But I knew exactly what I wanted. I could see the show in my mind. “Silly people doing silly things.”

I’m Christine Schmitz, and I’ve been fortunate to be part of the Horicon Phoenix Program (HPP) since 2015. HPP is a nonprofit organization dedicated to revitalizing Horicon, WI, by creating opportunities for connection, community pride and shared experiences.

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!

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…

Get ready to swing with the sounds of big band music with the Beaver Dam area’s own Paddle City Big Band at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23 in the BDACT’s Kamps Auditorium.

On the first day of my first acting class in college, the students were asked to think about actors we had heard of or seen on stage, TV or in a film. The question from the teacher was, “Who do you think you are like?”