By Steve Odenthal
At Front Row Reviewers Utah, we work hard to live up to our stated goal of Celebrating the GOOD in Utah Arts by making Utah Arts lovers aware of all the quality productions and events in our state. In most cases, that means we provide you with an insight into what goes on during a production after the curtain rises. We love to do exactly that and to bring you our positive messages about how the Arts inspire and benefit our communities. Our hope is that you will support these worthy productions with your patronage and help expose these venues to others who might not have experienced that portion of the Arts before. Sometimes, however, we find ourselves describing an iceberg where what is on display for the audience to take in—as good as it is—it is just the visible portion of a much bigger and hugely inspirational story. I’d like to take a moment and tell you about my recent iceberg discovery at the Heritage Community Theatre in Perry, Utah as it opened Wait Until Dark on October 6, 2017. What went on below the surface of this production is a small miracle of perseverance. It also is a story that the cast and crew will never let you know about. And while that is the way it should be, as the show stands very well on its own merit, the stage production is not the only thing here that represents the GOOD in Utah Arts.
The story of this production began as most do in community theatres with a director championing a show for the next season. In this case, Diane Robbins, a talented actress and seasoned director at the Heritage advocated for a suspenseful show to fit the October timeslot. Robbins felt that Wait Until Dark would offer audiences a timely show for the month of Halloween and she quickly had commitments from potential cast members. Chief among the actors of choice was Dan Kaminsky, a valued performer and director both at the Heritage and within the community. Kaminsky was a man who taught his craft to many theatre students over the years. As happens in theatre families, his love for the stage was shared by his entire family. His wife, Kari Kaminsky, and their two young daughters contributed to each production Dan was involved with and each developed their own fire for the art. With no warning, Dan passed away a few months before Wait Until Dark was cast. No one expected Dan’s early passing and the Heritage Theatre community felt the loss to such an extent that the October show was dedicated to his memory.
The late Dan Kaminsky
As Robbins organized and cast this show, she understood the importance of a strong production team and she selected several regular contributors who brought their special talents to create another quality show. In a sensitive gesture to ease the young widow back into the theatre family, Kari Kaminsky was asked to act as stage manager for the show. She willingly accepted the invitation and joined the production crew from the start, participating in the casting and learning of Director Robbins’ vision for the show. Design of the set, costuming, and basic scene blocking under the direction of Diane Robbins were progressing on schedule when disaster struck. A nagging, but tell-tale cough developed in the first few weeks of rehearsal and was diagnosed as a return of the Cancer that Diane Robbins had battled once before. This diagnosis required immediate hospitalization and extensive 24/7 chemotherapy. It remains doubtful as the battle goes on that she will be able to see this show.
The production crew of Melissa Jones, Valerie Odenthal, and Karie Kaminsky were asked to step up in their director’s absence and continue Robbins’ vision for the play. As often as possible and against doctor’s orders, Robbins checked in daily with the group from her hospital bed dispensing advice, experience, and tranquility. To say this cast and crew have been devoted to the show and especially to their leader and friend Diane Robbins is an understatement. The result of this troupe’s combined efforts is amazing and on display every Friday, Saturday and Monday night through October 28th.
Most shows go through changes and adjustments but usually not of this magnitude three weeks into rehearsal. However, the waters would just not smooth for this production as several of the small cast of eight found their own lives uprooted in catastrophic ways after the change of directors. Among the three villains (Justin “Spot” Beecher, Allan Jawwad, David McKenzie) alone, there occurred the death of a father for one actor. Another of the three is still engaged in extensive medical testing to determine the exact diagnosis of his wife’s potentially life-threatening condition. Several emergency room visits have occurred for this family and continue into the show’s run. Members of the production have had immediate family in harm’s way during the fires, floods and hurricanes within the past few months as they tried to bring this show to the stage.
The cast of Wait Until Dark at the Heritage Theatre in Perry, Utah
Additionally, this show has had its share of the usual job loss, personal financial setbacks, migraines, cast adjustments, set issues, and work schedule complications that are well known to all who volunteer their talents to community theatre. But this cast and crew will never tell you of any of this. These challenges are the bottom of the iceberg, and as such, they float below the surface; they are not for sharing.
Modifying the robertrobb.com pill sildenafil Course of the Disease: Certain drugs can modify the progress of psoriasis as well as the bearings should be modified adequately so as not to increase the secretions of inflammation part. Erectile dysfunction or ED is the inability of a man to maintain an buy pfizer viagra sales here erection strong enough to have sexual intercourse. To keep the body healthy and fit, people pay a lot of http://robertrobb.com/2019/10/page/2/ free cialis sample money. You are advised to practice viagra sale exercises regularly and consume healthy diet.
So, by exposing the hard things that these theatre troupers have been through in bringing a production to life for your enjoyment, I may be violating some great unspoken trust. But I don’t believe so. The hard things that each of our featured theaters and productions have found themselves rising above are part of the GOOD in Utah Arts. Ms. Robbins and now Ms. Kaminsky have led a talented group of individuals to a successful run of Wait Until Dark. You now know the backstory of some amazing people—a team in every sense of the word. You should be here with them at the Heritage Community Theatre in Perry, Utah to help us celebrate and support these people, these actors, these troupers as they bring you the best in suspense on their floating iceberg of a show. You will truly be seeing the GOOD in Utah Arts.
The Heritage Community Theatre presents Wait Until Dark by Frederick Knott
The Heritage Community Theatre, 2505 South Highway 89, Perry, Utah 84032
October 6-October 28 every Friday, Saturday and Monday 7:30 PM
Tickets $10, $12
Contact: 435-723-8392
Heritage Theater Facebook Page
0 Comments