For this month’s article, I will share with you a different passion of mine – performing in an area community theater production. After a twenty-two year hiatus from acting onstage, a couple months ago, I read an audition notice in my local newspaper for an Agatha Christie play titled “A Murder is Announced.”
In order for you to understand my motivation to become involved with this murder mystery drama, I must explain my history with this particular show. Back in 1983, this was the first play in which I had a major role at Buhl Summer Playhouse in Sharon, PA. Don Struck was the director and throughout the next two decades, I acted in several plays under his direction and also alongside him as a fellow cast member.
Consequently, when I saw that ACTS, an acronym for Area Community Theater of Sharpsville, planned to stage a production of A Murder is Announced with Don involved, I felt compelled to audition for a part. I found my old script from 1983 and read it before the audition so I knew which role I hoped he would choose for me. I’m obviously too old to play the same one I did before; I’m happy to say that I got the character I wanted, so I’ll be onstage again!
Rehearsals started in mid-September and the show dates are the last two weekends in October. ACTS is now located in and remodeling the former Sacred Heart Church in Sharon, PA. They have a very diverse board of directors and members at large who all share the same passion of keeping the performing arts alive in the downtown area.
If you’re interested in learning more about ACTS and their upcoming shows, here is a link to their website:
Area Community Theater of Sharpsville
Due to my rehearsal schedule, I had to adjust some of my line dance classes; I want to thank all my students for their patience. Over the past few months, I have been teaching and reviewing some of the local “classic” line dances, including these two:
Watermelon Crawl
Tush Push
*Writers note: As I was proofreading this article, unfortunately I received the sad news that Don Struck passed away in the middle of the night; he had been battling ALS. A true professional, he had participated via Zoom for our script “read through” rehearsal; plus, in the past few weeks, he collaborated with the show’s director. Don will truly be missed by the theater community and I will be onstage again with a special guardian angel director watching over me.
Dori Yez teaches Country Line Dancing at these Ohio SCOPE Centers: Howland on Monday evenings (Beginners) and Wednesday evenings (Seasoned Beginners & Intermediate) plus the same level in Cortland on Friday afternoons. Due to room size and attendance, Dori can no longer accept new students in either of her Howland classes. There is a waiting list for a new “true beginner” class. She is accepting additional dancers in the Cortland class.
