Reaching people through the arts

MT. PLEASANT - Barb McRoy, incoming president of the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Theatre Association, remembers the exact moment she was bit by the acting bug.

'I was in the fourth grade - 10 years old - and it was a Christmas show. I really wanted to be in it,” she recalled.

The retired elementary school teacher, who hails from Peoria, Ill., has been involved with theater for most of her life, first as a performer and later as a director.

'I was in children's community theater and was a munchkin in 'The Wizard of Oz.” The first time I was on that amphitheater stage in Glen Oak Park was just something. I was like, ‘Oh boy, I'm under the lights,'” she added.

She continued to be involved with children's community theater as she began her career as an educator, running school productions at the elementary and high school level. McRoy's own children also were heavily involved in theater growing up.

'I like to say I've danced on Broadway. After school, my son won a role in 'Miss Saigon” and after his performance, we would do a little dance on the stage,” she said.

When she made the move to Mt. Pleasant just several years back, she quickly became involved with the theater association when approached by a board member about directing 'Guys and Dolls,” which ran in February 2019. Following the production, McRoy became a board member herself and began serving as the group's vice president.

'We have a great group. Everyone pitches in whenever there's a show. From the advertising to the sale of tickets, props, setting, lighting - the board is behind the production and the director,” the association president said.

Transitioning from a performer to a director involved a little bit of a learning curve for McRoy. While still involved in the artistic side of the production, she learned to be a good manager of time and developed people skills as she was required to interact and work with all types of people in various departments.

She believes those skills will serve her well moving forward as the president of the association.

Now as she steps into the new leadership role, she hopes to continue providing art and theater to the town even as it navigates the pandemic.

'I just think we need to come up with some other ways to reach people through the arts because it's such a necessity in our lives,” McRoy said.

As both a teacher and a performer herself, McRoy has seen the benefits of community theater and the opportunities it provides to people. The new president sees theater as a learning experience for everyone and is another creative outlet for people, whether that be on the stage or in designing costumes or building sets.

'It gives people confidence. For kids, it takes them away from the electronics and shows them they can have fun in other ways. I just highly recommend it for anyone looking for something to do,” she said.

Even as the association continues figuring out creative ways to bring art to the community, McRoy wants locals to know theater is 'alive” still. The new president was one board member who presented the idea of a radio show to the rest of the association and helped organize the production as a way to continue providing opportunities to local thespians.

'Even though we aren't able to have a live audience at this time, we're still here and still planning to work together to provide theater for the community,” she said.