MAT-SU — As the Thanksgiving holiday draws near, it is accompanied by a feeling of gratitude for life’s many gifts. Out of all the many things to be thankful for this year, community theater is one of the blessings savored by the theatrically minded, but entertaining for all.

This weekend is the final showing of the Valley Performing Arts production of Agatha Christie’s “Spider’s Web.”

This is the Valley Performing Arts’ 34th season now, and after “Spider’s Web,” the lineup includes family friendly picks such as “Babes in Toyland” and “The Secret Garden.” Also scheduled are “I Hate Hamlet,” “Inherit the Wind” and Barry Manilow’s adaptation of “The Drunkard,” intended for more mature audiences. Anyone can audition to be in a play, providing those who yearn to perform with a small taste of acting. Many long hours of commitment, hard work and practice accompany the 15 minutes of fame garnered from even a small role, but for the actors and actresses who do it, all the hard work is worth it.

Colony High School sophomore Emily Stout experienced the stress of an actor’s life through her sister, Katy Stout, who plays the role of Pippa in “Spider’s Web.” Emily says that starting in August, her sister had practices almost daily.

“It takes so much time, with rehearsals and performances, but she enjoyed being in the play,” said Emily of her younger sibling.

Local stages welcome not only budding actors and actresses, but also those with a knack for the myriad behind-the-scenes activities that accompany any production. In Colony High School’s recent production of “The Crucible,” the music played during scene changes was written by one of the school’s music students. Sophomore Haley Wangberg not only composed, but also performed and recorded the background music used during the play.

Haley’s time with “The Crucible” was her first time as sound producer, but she enjoyed doing it.

“I would definitely do it again,” she said. “I love how the music and sound effects draw in the audience.”

Colony High School only puts on three shows a year, but for students who are already busy, the small number is perfectly fine. It allows students time to practice and perfect the production, with enough time for normal schoolwork and activities to be completed. The other high schools also have drama clubs, and between the schools and the VPA, live entertainment in the Valley is never hard to come by. As an added bonus over larger venues, local theaters are often smaller and provide the viewer with a more personal interaction with the play that a larger auditorium fails to deliver. Smaller theaters mean the seats are closer to the performance, making every seat a good seat.

The world may be a stage, and there are plenty of stages around the Valley that allow those who will never get to Broadway — as well as some who might — to become involved in the wonderful world of drama. For those who would rather be on the audience’s side of the curtain, community performances are a nearby, yet satisfactory, culture event anyone can attend. After all, the experience of live, local theater can make for a sensational evening.

 

Eva Colberg is a sophomore at Colony High School.