GROWING UP, JUST A LITTLE BIT
Collierville’s Harrell Theatre plans to offer more roles for adult actors.
On June 25, a group of hopeful actors stood on the stage of Collierville’s Harrell Theatre watching and listening as choreographer Katie Hanford demonstrated the steps she wanted them to perform.
This same group would be split into smaller groups later in order to read parts from the musical comedy play “Spamalot.” The British musical was the first show in the theater’s 20162017 season, and also the first play in a season which will mark a new direction for the Harrell Theatre.
Three women sat in the theater’s box office the day before the “Spamalot” auditions started. Two sat in chairs and the third, Collierville Arts Council (CAC) executive director Terry Dean, sat cross-legged on the floor surrounded by piles of paper. This was their meeting place, a place where the Collierville Arts Council make decisions about what plays to produce in their seasons.
The coming season will feature plays that offer more roles for adult actors.
“‘Spamalot’ is our first play, and it is totally adult,” said Leesa Wilkinson, who is a member of the council and a musical director. She said the theater will still do “A Christmas Story” during the holidays, but they’re choosing more adult plays for the rest of the season because they feel that New Day Theatre in Collierville takes care of children’s theater.
“We’re not totally excluding children’s roles,” said Wilkinson. “But we want to offer more opportunities where adults can take part in the productions.” “We’re excited that we actually have the next two seasons picked,” said Dean. The reason for their extreme activity is that the 2017-2018 season will mark the 30 year birthday of the arts council, and they are celebrating by re-producing the shows that ran that first season. But until then, they will be putting on plays you’ve never seen before at Collierville’s community theater. “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” and “A Streetcar Named Desire” will round out the list of adult offerings.
The CAC was formed in 1987 to fund the completion of construction on Harrell Theatre. Since then, they’ve produced 150 plays. Dean took over running the CAC in May. She has been a volunteer with the theater for three years and had a 10 year career with Leadership Collierville. Wilkinson taught music in community college and played or directed music in more than 25 community theater productions in Meridian, Mississippi. The third CAC brainstorming partner is Rachelle Maier, who is in the process of creating a volunteer auxiliary for the Harrell Theatre productions.
“We need volunteers to work backstage, the lobby, will call, refreshments, taking tickets and handing out programs,” said Maier.
All three ladies have personal investment in theater that fuels their passion for involvement with CAC. Dean was a theater mom who ventured onstage as a church lady in “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” Wilkinson has spent many years in musical theater, but said she only works behind the stage. Maier grew up singing, but hasn’t performed in many years.
“I looked at the Lady of the Lake role in ‘Spamalot’ and it made me nervous,” she said with a laugh.
Dean says having planned out two seasons’ productions in advance has also allowed her to move more quickly in hiring from the talented pool of directors and choreographers in our area.
“Memphis is very unique in that we (community theaters) all support each other,” she said. “A lot of our cast members come from other theaters, and we’re getting the reputation of a good community.”