The Production that Could, and Did

Photo courtesy of  Will Walker 

I recently wrote a post about a wonderful production in which I'm currently cast. It's a wonderful production because it's such a great example of the best of what community theatre can be.

I'm playing the role of Yonah in Stephen Schwartz's Children of Eden at Paris Community Theatre. It's a dream for me. I've wanted to play the part for over 15 years. I love everything about her. She is kind, patient, decisive, loving, and puts others before herself. The fact that I am getting a chance to play her is one of the miracles of community theatre and what it can do. If this were the professional world, I'd be too old. Yup. It's that plain and                                                                  simple.

We have two extraordinarily talented young people playing Adam/Noah and Eve/Mama. They are too young. We have people who are new to theatre or who haven't been onstage in decades. In theory, none of us should be playing these roles. And yet, it works. We work together as a cast. We compliment each other. And we have wonderful audiences who come to the theatre happy to suspend their disbelief for a fun and moving evening of music and storytelling.

Photo courtesy of Kayla Phillips

We've come a long way, too. We had a musical director who had to leave the production unexpectedly and another who joined us but also had to leave due to illness. We were sad to see both go, but we rallied as a cast and those of us who had any musical skills to offer came forward. We taught songs, played notes, gave vocal lessons and coaching, and we came together and worked.

I've watched this show magically come together as a whole in less than a week's time. After all the stress and frustration of Tech Week, we made it. We moved past stumbling blocks and problem areas to pull together a beautiful piece of theatre. And from opening night to our third performance, the show grew more than 100% more. It's just amazing.

Photo courtesy of Kayla Phillips

For the first time ever this past Sunday, we had to cancel a performance due to a broken air conditioning unit and sweltering temperatures. We continue on undaunted, though. We rallied as a cast and decided this show is too important to us and its message of love is too timely to not find a way to make a belated performance happen.

So, this weekend, we present five performances of Children of Eden. Thursday through Saturday evenings at 7:30 and Sunday we will present a "double-header" with performances at 2:30 AND 7:30. This is what community theatre can do. It can bond people together in a shared creative goal. It can move audiences that will accept us as storytellers and not literal representations of characters- because that's what great casts and audiences do. They are supportive. They rally. They give time and love.

If you live anywhere near the Paris, TX area, I encourage you to see us. We're not perfect, but we've worked really hard to bring these stories to life. We've taken on challenging roles and extra work far beyond being actor-singers. And we want to give this production to you as a gift. From us to you with love.

Photo courtesy of Kayla Phillips

Photo courtesy of Kayla Phillips

And isn't that what it's really all about?

Until Next Time...
Ro Huizinga

Top 10 Reasons I Love "Children of Eden"

Over fifteen years ago I was introduced to the most beautiful score I’d ever heard, and it belongs to a lesser-known musical, Children of Eden, by Stephen Schwartz.

I am so incredibly lucky to currently be cast in a production of this show.

There are so many things I love about it, that I thought I’d share my personal Top 10:

10. The stories. Even if you’ve never heard of the show, you likely know the stories, as it’s based on the first seven chapters of the book of Genesis.

9. The kids. We have the world’s cutest (IMHO) group of children playing the animals in the Garden of Eden and on Noah’s Ark!

8. The voices. There are great voices to go along with this great music. What tremendous local talent we have!

7. The variety. This show has something for everyone- really- it is a story of families for families. If you like music, and comedy, and drama, and a powerful message… you'll love this show!

6. The characters. It’s a beautiful transition from page to stage.

5. The role. I’m playing a character on my bucket list. I love Yonah. She’s kind, faithful, loving, and a peace maker. And her songs… sqeee!

4. The scenery, costumes, and lights. So many people have contributed to creating a beautiful world from the Garden of Eden to the Ark. Come out and get swept away into this world the way the cast does every day!

3. The energy. If you want to enjoy a high energy, moving story, this is for you.

2. The message. Ultimately, this is a story of love. And we need to hear what we already know: “The hardest part of love is the letting go.”

1. The music. This score is epic! It contains a variety of musical styles, the songs are memorable, and the ballads are so moving! Who doesn’t love great music?

OK… you’ve caught me. My personal Top 10 are also my personal Top 10 reasons to get you… Yes, YOU!... to come see this gorgeous musical. It’s not to be missed!

See you in Eden June 16-26! (Paris Community Theatre orBrown Paper Tickets)

Until Next Time…
Ro Huizinga

(All images from http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/top-images.php)