All posts by

Martin and Seezen Join Board of Governors

02/22/2019

Town Theatre is pleased to welcome Lee Martin and Rebecca Seezen to the Board of Governors for the Columbia Stage Society.

Lee Martin was born and raised in NYC. She graduated from Marist College with a BA in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Communication and Music. She also has a BA from St. John’s

University and studied at Indiana University’s Musical Theatre program. Lee has performed extensively in each area where she and her family have resided. Lee and her husband Chuck are the proud parents of daughter Ashley and sons, Jordan and Justin. Lee is excited to be a member of the Town Theatre Board and the Columbia community.

Rebecca Seezen grew up on the Town Theatre stage. A native of Columbia, Rebecca is a graduate of Wake Forest University with a BA in Communications. She has worked in radio and television and is currently the Communications Director at Saint Joseph Catholic School. She and her family are active members at Saint Joseph Church. Rebecca has extensive theatre and vocal experience and enjoys performing at Town with her whole family. She is honored to join the Board of Governors.

Special Events, Tributes

My Kind of Town ~ Al McNeely

01/23/2019

al town t 300

“My love/love relationship with Town Theatre goes way back to the dark ages: 1964. That’s when my wife Pat and an old high school girlfriend joined forces to force me to a tryout. I hadn’t been on the stage for seven years, but shockingly got the part, the lead and later the laughs. I was totally hooked. Now, 54 years later, my total is 28 productions. They cover everything from heavy drama to second tenor in a Sha Na Na line (twice!). From warbling an Irish lullaby solo in Guys and Dolls to a not-too-bad W.C. Fields impersonation. From opening one play by falling over dead, and two others that co-starred a 6-foot invisible rabbit.

It has been a wondrous ride. Six decades of laughter and hard work.

Learning all those lines. I even wrote scenes for two plays. Offstage, there were two terms on the Board of Governors, one term as president of the Players Club, and countless hours spent in such committees as play reading. I loved it all. Rehearsals were a kick. With each new production I made new friends, and as the years rolled by, they became old friends. Other McNeelys wound up on stage and we sometimes did shows together.

It all culminated in seeing my daughter Allison morph from a kid who once crawled around under the conference table upstairs to become the theatre’s Resident Director. As such, she has directed me in three shows so far, neatly turning our relationship upside down and proving that she has forgotten more stagecraft than I ever knew.

Today, at the precarious age of 83, it’s the people I remember more than the shows, people like my good friend John Wrisley. John and I played Holmes and Watson twice and did essentially the same two characters for My Fair Lady. At one time or another, my talented niece Leah, my comedy-improv son Alan, and of course my awesome daughter Allison were in shows. Many of our rehearsals were more like parties and some of the cast parties were held at our house. Occasionally, even today, someone in a restaurant or grocery store will call out “How’s Harvey?” and I have been “made” as Elwood P. Dowd, the angelic friend of Harvey the Rabbit. I played Elwood twice, 15 years apart, and a portrait of Harvey and myself, paw on shoulder, hangs on our bedroom wall. I can still use lines from that play anywhere I need to kill some time. Only the remnants of other lines from other plays are still in my feeble memory bank today, remarkable when you consider the sweat and tears once necessary to pound them in.

There were other plays that came under the “Heavy Lifting” category. Doing Sleuth with Bill Arvay as a two-actor grind wore us down to the nub every night. I thought about walking away from my TT hobby/habit. But new plays came along with roles I liked, so I was still moderately hooked. In 1999 Allison tricked me into doing a very long role in Over My Dead Body. It proved to be my swan song for retentive memory. I did two more walk-ons and am sneakingly searching for another. Three years ago, at age 80, I played the one-scene one-laugh cop in Singin’ in the Rain. By all the evidence I can conscientiously collect, that makes me the oldest actor ever to appear in a TT show. I’m proud of that.

I was lucky enough to do shows in both the 50th and the 75th anniversary seasons. So if anybody desperately needs a walk-on for the 100th, I’m your man.

Or the rabbit.”

Special Events

ABOUT THE ARTIST ~ Kathy Hartzog

01/18/2019

ABOUT THE ARTIST ~ Kathy Hartzog

Kathy photo Kathy Hartzog is a well-known Columbia actress having appeared in numerous musicals and comedies at Workshop Theatre, Town Theatre and Village Square Theatre in Lexington. She appeared as Mame at Village Square, as well as Rosie in Bring Back Birdie and a soloist in All Night Strut. At Workshop she played Noleta in Sordid Lives and Mrs. Meers (for which she was awarded Best Supporting Actress by On Stage Columbia) in Thoroughly Modern Millie. Some of her memorable roles at Town Theater have included Bloody Mary in South Pacific, Aunt Eller in Oklahoma, Ouiser in Steel Magnolias, Dorothy Brock in 42^nd Street, Daisy Werthen in Driving Miss Daisy, The Duchess in “Nice Work if You Can Get It”, Sue Ellen Smith Barney Fife in Honkey Tonk Angels, as the Ghost of Christmas Future in A Christmas Carol and most recently as Mrs. Kirby in You Can’t Take it With You, plus countless others. Her favorite role, however, has been Louise in Always…Patsy Cline, which not only has been presented at Town Theatre several times but has toured all over the state including Newberry Opera House, Bishopville Opera House, Dillon’s Performing Arts Center and Greenwood Theatre. A transplant from Montgomery, Alabama, Kathy appeared in over 30 productions with the Montgomery Little Theatre.

Kathy started painting in watercolors and oils 20 years ago under the guidance of renowned South Carolina artists, Michele McNinch and Anna Kaye Singley. She has been juried in the South Carolina State Fair art exhibit for several years and has won several Purchase Patron Awards. Some of her pieces are in private collections across the South. She is a member of the Corley Mills Artists’ Group and her work can be viewed on their website, www.corleymillart.com.

Title: “Making an Entrance”
Inspiration for the work: An actress getting ready to step onto the stage during Town’s production of South Pacific.
Medium: Oil on canvas Size: 11” x 14”

This piece was already purchased, but see Kathy’s other submission and check out all of the other art pieces here!

Main Stage, Tributes

Moonlighting Math Teachers

11/15/2018

Guest blog by Hans Boeschen
Director of The Buddy Holly Story

In 2011, three years after moving to Columbia from Nebraska, I walked into my first ever community theatre audition. I had been involved in school productions since the second grade, was just shy of a minor in theatre, and had, at that time, been teaching high school theatre for three years. I had never tread the boards in a community production, however. That first audition, almost eight years ago, would change my life.

That was when I met Lou. Boeschens

Since that time, either Lou or I have been involved with 25 productions ~ on the stage or on the production team. (I am well aware of Lou’s extensive involvement in Columbia community theatre long before we met. I will forever be trying to catch up.) In seven of these 25 shows, we were lucky enough to be working together.

This production of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story is not only my first time directing for Town Theatre, but it is also the first time Lou and I have joined up as director/musical director. It has been such a joy to have Lou by my side throughout the process. Many times our dinner conversation has been about the show. To be able to ask her about a directing choice or work through a transition has been such a wonderful resource. She has been my biggest supporter, my rock, and my sounding board (pun intended). Not to mention, she is an amazing musical director.

I believe the true power of the theatre is in the connections it builds. Whether those connections be amongst the cast working together for months, the audience who see the raw emotions of each actor, or within the community at large as we examine what life is about through the stage, theatre unites us. I consider myself extremely lucky that the theatre brought Lou and me together and that I get to be a part of such a vibrant community theatre environment.

I am continually thankful for Town for providing a safe space for two math teachers to moonlight as thespians.

Special Events

ABOUT THE ARTIST ~ Hans Boeschen

11/12/2018

ABOUT THE ARTIST ~ Hans Boeschen

Hans Boeschen

Hans Boeschen, a high school math teacher by day, has made many appearances on the stages at Town Theatre and Workshop Theatre. At Workshop, he appeared in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory as Phineous Trout, Roger and Hammerstein’s Cinderella as the Steward, Doctor Dolittle as Matthew Mugg, and Crimes of the Heart as Barnett. Hans made his directorial debut in the Columbia community theatre two years ago with Barefoot in the Park at Workshop Theatre. He has also directed Shrek Jr: The Musical for Workshop last June. At Town Theatre, Hans has appeared as The Professor in South Pacific, Naphtali in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the Park Keeper in Mary Poppins, Mr. Smythe in A Christmas Carol: The Musical, and most recently appeared as Amos Calloway in Big Fish” Hans makes his directorial debut at Town Theater this season with Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story.

Hans is a self-taught painter after having picked up some oils, brushes, and a Bob Ross instructional book 7 years ago. He finds painting as a hobby a great way to relieve stress and reconnect with his creative side. Hans

Title: “Life of Stages”
Inspiration for the work: Growing up in the theatre and continuing the cycle by sharing it with the family.
Medium: Acrylic on canvas Size: 10” x 20”

Bid on Hans’ piece here ~ or check out all of the pieces here!

Special Events, Tributes

My Kind of Town ~ Gabe Flores

11/10/2018

gfloresheadshot “My only performance with Town Theatre was as Jerry, the drummer for The Crickets in Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story during the 2008-2009 season. This was a pivotal moment in my life and, looking back, I can see how that time was so formative. Having extensive performance experience in the rock and roll and marching band worlds, I had a minor interest in live theatre. On a whim, I decided to show up to an audition and try something new. I decided to audition for the drummer and rest, as they say, is history.

In a previous life, I was dragged to the theatre unwillingly. I begrudgingly sat with arms crossed and barely allowed myself to enjoy the show. During my brief residence in South Carolina, I had a hard time finding a home or community to call my own. Little did
I know it was going to be in the theatre. My fondest experience of Town Theatre was realizing I was part of something wildly different than I had ever expected. One of my favorite memories of our show was the first time I was told we were sold out. To me, that validated my choice to spend time in the theatre. Another memorable time was finishing the show to a standing ovation that lasted long after the curtain had dropped. It only got louder when we returned for the curtain call.

After returning to my native Florida, theatre became a borderline obsession. I spent years as a theatre reviewer and used that time to “educate” myself about all types of shows. I have since directed multiple plays and musicals for schools and theatre festivals. I also
started writing my own plays and eventually wrote a musical. Shows I have been associated with as director, playwright, composer, musical director, actor and stage manager have been seen in New York, Florida and Kansas City.

My time at Town reinforced my drive and desire to work in collaboration. It also taught me the magic of the theatre. Many of life’s problems can be solved, or at least examined, in some sort of way by the theatre. Whether it’s a series of solving problems, relating to strangers with similar interests or just turning off the world for a couple of hours, these are skills I learned in the theatre. I now put art and passion first. Thanks to my time at Town Theatre, I live a very fulfilling life. I look forward to an opportunity to return and repay my debt someday, somehow.” crickets

Main Stage

Let’s Start at the Very Beginning… A Word from The Von Seezrich Family

11/07/2018

Narrated by Dell Goodrich

Performing is and has long been a common theme in our family dynamic. Growing up, I thought every family had a rule that prohibited singing at the dinner table. Don’t they? Was this a hint of the future for us?

James, “Aunt Dell” and Marshall enjoy a day a the beach.

As adults, conversation at our family gatherings often centers on who is involved or planning to be involved in a production. Usually at Town Theatre (and there’s a LOT of talking at these gatherings, as you might imagine)!) It is a bond that we all cherish. At family dinner, one Sunday late this past summer, I brought up the subject of auditioning for Buddy Holly. After finishing Beauty and the Beast in August, I was already craving an opportunity to get back to the theatre and hoped to be involved in this production in some capacity. My initial inquiry was whether my sister, Rebecca, or my brother, Charlie, planned to audition (I knew my talented youngest nephew, Jack, already a veteran of the TT stage, was too young for this one.) Imagine my surprise and delight when Rebecca informed me that her two oldest sons, my nephews James and Marshall Seezen, were interested in auditioning and planned to play their own instruments. They’d never appeared on the TT stage before. And Charlie was throwing his hat in the ring too! Yay!

That decided it for me right away. I was definitely auditioning. I really wanted us all to do this together. When Charlie was cast as Buddy Holly, the nephews as two of the Crickets, and me as a “Crickette”, I was over the moon and couldn’t wait to get started. The journey has been every bit as rewarding as I knew it would be. Every day and every performance, I grow more excited about the blossoming “grown-up” friendship I’m building with my nephews. [We just became Facebook friends!]. It’s great to see more of Charlie, too, as he has been so busy this last year, being both a newlywed and the new drama teacher at AC Flora.

It has been just amazing to go through this process together and to glimpse it through the eyes of newcomers like my nephews, after all these years…. Especially with dear friends Hans, Lou, and Shannon leading us. It is especially significant and memorable for me to get to share the stage with both of my families in Town’s 100th year.

Rebecca and I became part of the Town Theatre family more than 35 years ago, with Showstoppers I and The Sound of Music. I asked Rebecca to share her thoughts about the older boys joining their other family members as “Townies.”

A family shot after Willy Wonka, summer 2017.

She shared many of my same sentiments. “It has been so fun to watch y two older sons become a part of the Town family. They are joining not only their aunt and uncle, but me, their younger brother, and their dad as Townies. It is hard to describe how it feels to see all 3 of my kids finding joy on the stage where I grew up. I am proud, of course, but it also strengthens our bond as a family. We have this common experience that we share. We all know what it feels like to run those stairs to the dressing room, wait backstage for a cue, and hear the applause of a sold-out crowd from that historical stage. It is such an amazing theatre family, and I’m glad to welcome James and Marshall to it.”

In one of the first productions I did with my brother, Charlie Goodrich, I also played a music legend, Tammy Wynette. We have similar research and preparation styles for these roles, so I already knew what was ahead for Charlie as he met the challenge and enjoyment of portraying a known figure, whose music and sad story has touched so many people. I also knew he would nail it. I’d seen him do it with many roles before, most notably as Johnny Cash. As predicted, Charlie has thrown himself into the role and shines as Buddy Holly. James and Marshall, being such accomplished musicians themselves, enhance the experience as they share the musical spotlight with Charlie and bassist, Billy Bishop. But wait, there’s more! Not only is Charlie an accomplished actor, singer and musician, but he is making a name for himself as a director. And he’s darn good at it! (I know! Rebecca and I have both been cast in plays he directed.) He’ll be directing Mamma Mia in the spring. Hopefully, some of us will have the chance to collaborate again on that production.

This is what Charlie had to say about this particular experience. “What a joy to be involved in this fabulous production! This Season at Town is not only is the 100th Season for the Theatre, but also my 10th Season of continuous involvement. Initially, I only planned to direct this season (Mamma Mia), but when I saw the audition notice for Buddy, I instantly jumped at the challenge. I already knew that Dell was auditioning, as were my nephews, James and Marshall. At the callback we all attended I could feel that this would be a special production if we were all cast. To my delight, we all were!

This production has been an immensely special one for many reasons. Of course, getting the privilege to portray the legendary Buddy Holly‬ is an honor that I cannot express in words. However, getting the chance to share the TT stage with my nephews for the first time and with Dell for the third time has made it all the more enjoyable! Town Theatre has always held a special place in the hearts of my family. That place has been cemented even more by this wonderful production. I can’t thank Hans, Lou, and Shannon enough for giving all of us the chance to experience this awesomeness together!”‬‬

When I asked my nephews how it felt to be a part of this, their responses reflected that they have now found the same joy as the rest of us, being on the TT stage. The bug has bitten them and they plan to keep on rocking with TT in the days to come. They also look forward to a chance to work with cousin, Agnes Babb, in a future production.

James, playing the Crickets’ guitarist, shared how he cherished this opportunity on many levels. “I have had an absolute blast doing this play with my family. It was totally awesome to get to share a stage with some of my favorite people. I am ecstatic to get to jam out with my uncle, my aunt, and my brother in front of such an amazing audience. I want to thank Hans and Lou Boeschen for all the math help, Uncle Charlie and Aunt Dell for all the support backstage, and my little brother Marshall, for keeping me on tempo.”

Pictures 039 — James, “Uncle Charlie” and Marshall at USC graduation.

Marshall, playing the Crickets’ drummer, indicated he is still discovering what a gift it is to share this passion with the rest of us. “Working with my whole family has just been surreal. I remember when I was a kid when Charlie first started at Town. Since then it always seems like someone is doing a show. Whether it be one of Charlie’s, Mom’s, or Dell’s shows or one of my little brother’s (Jack)….or even both my parents, Charlie and my little brother all in one. Before this show, I have stuck primarily to the Cardinal Newman drama program. Now that I’ve started at Town Theatre, I look forward to many more shows with my great family.”

I can’t adequately express how incredibly proud I am of my talented family. (As anyone who knows me is well aware. I brag about them to anyone who will listen!) I’ve jokingly called us “The Von Goodrich Family Singers”, in homage to the Von Trapp Family (The Sound of Music). Now that the next generation is represented, I think I will be modifying that to “The Von Seezrich (Seezen-Goodrich) Family”. 😉

James, Marshall, Dell and Charlie together in The Buddy Holly Story.

We have many, many years ahead of us to enjoy working together and to share our love of performing. Thanks, Town Theatre, for making a place for all of us to join in the fun!

Technical Theatre, Youth Theatre

Town’s Talent

10/10/2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

We are pleased to announce that Corey Langley has been selected as Town Theatre’s Assistant Technical Director. Corey has been a part of the Town family for many years both on stage and off. He recently played Cogsworth in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and just finished the role of Krupke in Town’s season opener of West Side Story. On the technical side, Corey has served as a freelance scenic designer in the Columbia area for the past eleven years. His portfolio includes work at Airport High School, BC High School, Congaree Baptist Church, and the former Stage Five Theatre. We are glad to have Corey serve in this capacity.

We also are pleased to announce that Megan Douthitt, another long-time Town Theatre participant, has now joined our staff in a full-time capacity. Megan has been on the Town stage in Mary Poppins, Miracle on 34^th Street and Willy Wonka. She has worked at Town since 2016 in the box office and with our youth theatre program. She continues to wear several hats including serving as Assistant Director of Youth Theatre, serving as the lead arts faculty for our school theatre initiative and taking on additional administrative duties. Megan works alongside Scott Vaughan, whom we welcomed in late summer as our Youth Theatre Director, and Jeremy Reasoner, who continues in his role as Musical Director for Youth Theatre and Town’s private voice instructor.

Main Stage, Tributes

Reflections on West Side Story – Take Three

10/05/2018

Editor’s Note: In our current production of West Side Story – we have three “veterans” of Town’s 1998 production. David Swicegood (Director) and Tom Baldwin (Doc) penned their thoughts earlier in the series. TAKE THREE is courtesy of Kerri Roberts who is playing the role of Maria.

In the summer of 1998 I was 21 years old, preparing to start my senior year of college, and engaged to be married. I was privileged to study voice at Columbia College with the incomparable Lanny Palmer, who encouraged me to go and audition for West Side Story at Town Theatre. I was not a Columbia native and had not been involved in any theatre outside of Columbia College where I was active in opera, and Columbia Classical Ballet where I danced for four years during college. I had absolutely no idea about the community theatre scene in Columbia. I remember being so nervous about auditioning, but so excited about the potential of doing something new. To be honest, I don’t remember much about the audition process except the director, David Swicegood saying to me, “I’m SO glad you could sing!” I immediately felt welcomed and right at home in that little old theatre! It’s been that way ever since.

I genuinely have no negative memories associated with the 1998 production. It was, in fact, truly ground-breaking in my life. I had been a singer. I had been a ballerina. I had been in operatic productions. For me, West Side Story was the first time that I experienced the thrill of doing all the things I loved – singing, dancing and acting – all in one medium. I came alive with it! That was when I first discovered my passion for musical theatre. David was such an easy, kind, inspiring director, who truly loved what he was doing, and the environment of the show was always positive in my memory. I remember the week of intense choreography sessions when Maurice Brandon Curry came to teach us the whole show! Maria doesn’t dance all that much, but it was still so fun to learn from Maurice and to watch the rest of the cast, many of whom would not have called themselves dancers, come together and nail these iconic dances! Christopher McCroskey was our music director and working with him was also a pleasure. This production team, along with Janet Kile as the costumer, worked together so well to create a show that was truly a joy to be a part of. I felt nothing but encouragement!

For sure, the best part of West Side Story 1998 was the people. David, Christopher, and Janet are all still very dear to me and I treasure any chance I get to see them and/or work with them. Brian Childers was so talented and such an easy stage partner as Tony. It has been so great to watch him go on to have a successful career! That was when I met Shannon Scruggs, who has become a friend, a director and a colleague for whom I am very grateful! Agnes Babb and Lou Boeschen are also “Town family” that I first met in West Side Story! I have such fond (and funny) memories as stories of all the Jet and Shark guys and girls, some of whom actually came to my wedding a few months after this show closed. I’ll never forget the connection with Robby Sweet (Chino) during the last scene of the show and the tears in his eyes almost every time.

When I learned that Debra Bricker Brewer would play the role of Anita, I remember feeling very intimidated. She had been a ballet teacher, known for her sharpness and demand for excellence. But she embraced me as a sister rather than a student and we had the best time playing these roles together. She killed it as Anita! We still squeal out “Querida!!!” whenever we see each other!

Tom Baldwin was just as precious as Doc the first time around. And although Maria and Doc are only ever on stage together in the very last scene, Tom was always encouraging to me and kind. He only ever called me Maria after that! Who would have thought that 20 years later we would serve the same church in worship each week and be getting to reprise our roles in West Side Story 2018?! The first time he was technically too young to play Doc and this time I am technically too old to play Maria, but we’re making it work!

Of course, I could never leave out Will Moreau. West Side Story 1998 was also his first show at Town Theatre, so we were “newbies” together. Will played the role of Bernardo, Maria’s protective older brother. He was much more experienced and mature in his craft than I was, but he quickly came alongside me and encouraged me. He saw my potential and never missed an opportunity to tell me what he thought about it. After this show, we didn’t work together in the theatre for 18 years! BUT we reconnected through the world of social media while my family was living on the mission field in Zambia, Africa. I didn’t know that much about Will and his personal passion and work in 1998. But I got to know him over the years by watching and reading about his life online! And he did the same with me. We developed a true respect and affection for one another over the years.

When I came back to the States and got reconnected with my theatre family at Town, Will was one of the people I was most excited to see! Everyone loved being around Will! We would chat whenever we would see each other around the theatre. Then when the audition announcement came out for My Fair Lady we giddily talked about auditioning! He was SO excited about the possibility of playing the role of Alfred P. Doolittle, as was I about playing the dream role of Eliza Doolittle! The day that we got the call offering us the roles of Alfred and Eliza we both happened to be at the theatre. Will came running to the lobby to find me and we hugged and jumped around squealing! I will always treasure having that show together. It gave us the opportunity to spend time talking about life and faith over coffee, to play family again on stage (however dysfunctional), and to share in the comradery of a fantastic cast.

Last fall, just a couple of weeks after Will had actually gone to share about Native American culture with my youngest daughter’s class, we lost him so suddenly. One of the kindest, most genuinely loving people I’ve never known. I am grateful to have called him a friend. To have played his daughter on stage, but first to have played his little sister back in 1998. Thank you West Side Story for not only being a catalyst for discussions on love, racism, bigotry and violence but also for being the place in my own life where passions and treasured relationships were born! I’m so grateful!

Main Stage, Tributes

REFLECTIONS ON WEST SIDE STORY – TAKE TWO

09/21/2018

Editor’s Note: In our current production of West Side Story – we have three “veterans” of Town’s 1998 production. David Swicegood (Director) penned his thoughts earlier this week. TAKE TWO is courtesy of the one and only Doc, Tom Baldwin.

wss-9-12-18-dress-120_42859538760_o — Tom Baldwin as Doc, 2018. PC: Go Flash Win.

Doc’s Memories of 1998:

West Side Story (1998) was my first show at Town Theatre after an eight-year absence. I had just played Senex in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Workshop the year before and was just starting to get the “theatre bug” again. I remember going to the open audition where I sang my eight bars (of something) and tried to dance. Jennifer Austin (who became a lovely friend) was the dance captain. She started giving out a lot of dance commands to a lot of experienced dancers (and me) and, needless to say to anyone who knows me…I didn’t shine. Well, the cast was going to be doing Maurice Curry’s choreography so, as also holds true for Joy’s current wonderful choreography, they were going to need some pretty good dancers. That’s the kind of show it is. Now don’t get me wrong, I knew I was in over my head. I had made a pretty good Freddie Eynsford-Hill, i.e. sings pretty but don’t move too much, but I knew I was no Tony. And, I was 40. What was I thinking?! All I knew was that there were all of those great Leonard Bernstein songs and I wanted to be part of them and the twenty-somethings (that includes you too, Ag and Candice!) who cherish this classic work. This thing, West Side Story, builds a bridge across generations. So, I went home, despondent, thinking I wouldn’t get a call back from David. I popped my VHS tape of the movie into my VCR and started listing to the opening overture. When it gets to “Maria,” tears start streaming down my face. I made a decision to do something that I would never recommend to anyone who auditions for shows (but, it merely worked for me). I decided to crash callbacks. The night of callbacks, I was sitting down front with my sheet music in my hand ready to sing again and then David touches my shoulder. I look up and he says, “I don’t need to hear you sing again, but I want you to hang around”. So, I did. Apparently, “Doc” had been cast, but whoever was going to do it had to drop out (probably Bubba Fulmer J). I read for “Doc.” I was cast as “Doc.” The rest of the experience was just funny, touching, exhilarating and one of the best experiences that I’ve ever had.

Here is a list of fond memories from the show:

True, real life brothers, “Womb-to-tomb”, “Sperm-to-worm”, Brian and Mark Childers (“Tony” and “Riff”).
The night that Jonathan Monk (“Baby John”) and Will Moreau (“Bernardo”) couldn’t spin Doc’s combo back staircase/storefront for the last scene with Tony and Doc. Will said, “Doc! The latch is stuck!” LOL
Baby John, Chino and Doc singing the “Maria” echo from the wings.
Brian (“Tony”) letting out an “Ow!!…Ow!!!!” one night when I clocked him real good!
Lee Reynolds (“Glad Hand”), during a rehearsal, standing in the circle looking serious in the Tony death scene in a tweed coat and heart-covered boxer shorts.
Debra Bricker (“Anita”) thinking I was shy. Ha!
Robbie Sweet (“Chino”) – An all-around good guy and a good friend.
Kati Baldwin – My seven-year-old daughter standing in a chair on the front row, applauding during a curtain call with a look of wonder on her face.
David Swicegood – How do you make it look so easy when it obviously ain’t? Grace in the face of adversity should be his middle name.
Shannon Willis (Scruggs) – You grew up to be quite a woman from the little teenager that I once knew.
Kerry Grimsley (Roberts) – Wow! You’re still here! Still brilliant and beautiful. I get déjà vu all over again when you turn the gun on the crowd. It’s good to see that some things haven’t changed.