Category Archives: The Tales

This post best pairs with “Circle of Life” from The Lion King (1997). Welcome back to Tales From A Hometown Community Theater! I took a couple of months off to get through the holidays and focus on my actual job (gotta pay for those holiday gifts). Now I’m back with your regularly scheduled programming. ToContinue reading “Tale #23: Far Too Much To Take In Here”

This post best pairs with “Hair” from Hair (1968). I had my first directorial experience when I was 22. I was fresh out of college and ready to make a splash. I ambitiously had applied with Bring It On the Musical for the teen program and was approved.  There were many foreseeable challenges that cameContinue reading “Tale #22: Stop Scolding Me About Hair”

This post best pairs with “Montage, Part 4: Gimme the Ball” from A Chorus Line (1975).Parental Discretion Advised There is nothing more dangerous in theater than an unpredictable child actor with a live microphone backstage. Ok to be fair, there’s probably like ten-thousand things that are more dangerous, but going for dramatic effect here. TheContinue reading “Tale #21: Get Your Hands Off My Balls”

This post best pairs with “Radio Ga Ga” from We Will Rock You (2013). Music Theatre International is one of the biggest theatrical licensing companies in the world. It might be the biggest, but ever since Tams-Witmark, R&H Theatricals, Samuel French, and the ALW Collection were merged together under one umbrella (Concord Theatricals), I cannotContinue reading “Tale #20: Move Your Hips and Dance Like a Fish”

This post best pairs with “BFF” from SpongeBob SquarePants The New Musical (2017). Lighting Guy Steve and I have grown very close over the years. We were friends long before he was my fake fiancé. Starting with Bring It On in 2016, each teen show I directed presented him with exciting lighting challenges that allowedContinue reading “Tale #19: Stop Burping!”

This post best pairs with “Take Back Your Mink” from Guys and Dolls (1950). Costumes in community theater can range from a colorful t-shirt to a beautiful ball gown; from a pair of black cotton leggings to an authentic military uniform. It is all dependent on the show, cast size, the availability of a costume,Continue reading “Tale #18: Take Back Your Skirt”

This post best pairs with “Stop” from Mean Girls (2018). I don’t think I will ever stage manage again in my entire life. My one and only experience stage managing has made me very gun shy about attempting it again. Last week, I talked about our run in with the fire department. That was justContinue reading “Tale #17: Stop Punching Each Other… There”

This post best pairs with “It’s Raining Men” from Priscilla Queen of the Desert (2011). VACT’s youth shows have the biggest cast sizes in the area. Our 2016 production of A Seussified Christmas Carol had almost 70 performers between the ages of 8 and 13. As I’m sure you can imagine, dress rehearsals with kidsContinue reading “Tale #16: Holy Firemen”

This post best pairs with “Spooky Mormon Hell Dream” from The Book of Mormon (2011).Parental Discretion Advised Some of my favorite memories at VACT involve kids saying absolutely ridiculous things. There is nothing more comedically precious than when a small, innocent looking creature mutters something completely outlandish. Audition days are very tiring especially for theContinue reading “Tale #15: Nope! You won’t be.”

This post best pairs with “Kids” from Bye Bye Birdie (1960). Working with kids can have incredibly rewarding moments and incredibly challenging moments all smashed into one surely exhausting experience. I have worked with more kids than I would ever be able to count during my time at VACT. Over the years, certain kids stickContinue reading “Tale #14: Trust me, they don’t hate you. (Although they might be starting to).”