So tonight is the opening of our Champaign Park District Youth Theater show, Music Man Jr. One of my friends at the park district asked me to work with Debra Myers-Dobbs and Caitlin Caruso-Dobbs as assistant director/producer of the youth shows this year. Wow, it's been a lot different than I expected. My main role is to help behind the scenes, and I help a little with blocking and set construction. It's kept me busy for sure.
I've worked on about 15 shows between this one and the Champaign Urbana Theater Company. First let me say I'm not an actor or singer and I don't have any desire to be on stage. The spot lights are for the actors, not for me. But for the most part I truly enjoy the passion theater people have. Part raw talent, part a desire to shine in their lives and part ego, theater people really know how to turn it on and turn it off. And when they are on, it's a fast track race to keep up.
I got started in theater about 5 years ago when a dear friend, Kathy Murphy, asked me to help backstage at CUTC's student production of Les Miserables. It was a big set and they needed lots of help moving it on and off. Shoot, I could move chairs and tables, so I volunteered. I was hooked for life after the first show.
Over the next year or two I worked back stage on 5 or 6 other shows and eventually co-produced a show with another great theater person, John Stuff. We did Beauty and the Beast, and it was another great experience for me. Now 5 years later I've produced 4 shows, worked backstage for 10 or so others and have "found a place" in theater.
This show we are working on is lots of fun. This is a "no cut" show, in that students 2nd grade - 8th grade sign up and are in the show. Some are really talented, some not so much. I've had to learn patience, understanding that I need to make sure everyone has a good time, learns a little about theater and takes away a positive impression of the whole experience.
Our director is Debra Myers-Dobbs. I first met Debra when her family directed Oliver for CUTC and I was working backstage. She is an amazingly talented artist, who knows what she wants and shares her vision with everyone she touches. She is much more patient than I with the kids and I've learned a lot just watching her interact. Debra's one of those people who must have closets and boxes full of stuff. Nearly every rehearsal she brought more "stuff" for the kids to wear and carry on stage. I don't know how her family deals with it, but I had to learn to adjust to it all. But, Debra had her vision and it was much clearer and better than mine!
Debra's daughter Caitlin is our other asst. director. Once again an amazingly talented young woman. I have enjoyed many of Caitlin's performances over the years. I'm thankful I have had the chance to work with her blocking the show and thankful she has been open to my suggestions. Overall, the experience with the Dobbs family has been a wonderful experience.
The kids in the show are all over the board. Some are just gifted! Some have no talent at all. And most are in the middle, learning about theater and enjoying the experience. Our lead actors and actresses are all extremely talented. Kathy Murphy's nephew Quinn is our Harold Hill. Working with the Murphy family is always a joy. Quinn's dad Joe built our set, (with help from others of course) and Quinn's sister Maeve is in the show as well playing Zenita. So there is talent all around. I got to work with Quinn's older brother Cullyn this summer in Willie Wonka. Cullyn is also incredibly talented and has a bright future in whatever he chooses. I told him the other day that I think I have seen every one of his performances since he was about 13. He's one of my all time favorites and it truly has been a joy watching him become such a terrific young man. All in all, spending 8 weeks with members of the Murphy family is a good thing!
So, tonight at 7 the house lights come up and we'll start the music. The show won't be perfect, but it will be fun. And in Youth Theater, that may be the most important thing.
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