The Beginning of A Journey

In high school, my sister, Kate (or Kathy for those of you who 'knew her when'), was involved in the drama program at Shelby High School. When I got there, she was already known for her talents on stage. I knew some people in the theatre department through her, and one of my good friends, Pam Ritchie, was in the department. She had got involved in the tech side the first semester of our freshman year. It seemed interesting, so I decided to join the SHS Tech Crew in the second semester of my freshman year. About a week or so before the end of the first semester, I went in to ask the teacher, Kathie Burgin, when I should start staying to work. The tech class was held during an extra period at the end of the day, so I needed to know when I would have to stay longer than I had been. She said, "How about today? We're starting work on a new show, and it would be better if you came in at the beginning."

We met that day in the lounge of the women's restroom. It was winter, the rest of the theater was freezing, as theaters tend to be, and the lounge is always warm. I didnt know quite what to do, so I sat in a corner near those I knew and didn't say much. This was kind of a trend (the not saying much) for the next year or so. I was just soaking in whatever anyone would teach me about theatre. Burgin likened me to a knowledge sponge. The show we were doing was Li'l Abner. I didn't audition. I was the quiet kid who sat in the corner and didn't say anything. I was doing a well to go out and join crew. There was no way I was going to audition with the established people in the department. Rehearsals went on and, being on crew for the show, I went to watch some of them to get a feel for the show. Plus, Kate played Mammy Yokum, so when she was my ride, I had to stay.

About a week before the show opened, I was sitting in the house (audience, for you non-theatre folks) when Steve Padgett and Burgin realized they didn't have enough husbands on stage. I was asked to fill in and before I knew it, I was on stage with a part in the musical. I didn't tell Mom. I had my grandpa's old flannel shirt I've had since I was 6, ratty shoes, and the corduroy pants of Stephan Langston, who played Abner, as my costume. Now, Stephen is about twice my size now, and I've grown since then. Rope was the only thing holding those pants up. Add a goofy hat, and you have one ungainly Li'l Abner husband. You also have the start of my acting career. I surprised Mom by plopping in her lap (she was in the aisle seat) during a chase scene where some of us were supposed to 'catch' audience members. It was a good start to what would become an exceptional three and a half years of theatre at Shelby High School.

With the next show, Boys Next Door, it was decided that I would help run sound. I had only seen the sound board. I had never run it. I didn't even know how to turn the damn thing on. The problem was that the main sound guy, Stephen oddly enough, was in the show and wouldnt be able to run the board. Thus, it fell to me. I learned the basics of sound and the board in a week or three and ran the show with that basic knowledge. From then to the summer after my senior year, I worked every position available in the technical side of the department. From sound technician/designer to lighting technician/designer to follow spot operator to technical director to stage manager, I did it all. I also got an idea that I wanted to do theatre for a living.