‘Working toward the next 50 years’

After Dave Brown's first-grade class went to see a production of 'The Old Mill,” he was hooked on theater.

It wasn't so much the play itself as it was the set design that caught Brown's attention and started him on a lifelong pursuit of acting, singing and directing, a passion he has been able to continue through his participation in Mt. Pleasant Community Theatre.

Brown got involved in Mt. Pleasant Community Theatre in 1980. The first play he performed in was 'Naked in Des Moines” and the first musical he acted in was 'Once Upon a Mattress.”

On Saturday, June 8, Brown celebrated the 50th anniversary of Mt. Pleasant Community Theatre alongside cast and crew members who have participated since the beginning or taken part in productions here and there throughout the years.

'We have the most talented group of people in this area - actors, singers, people who build sets,” Brown said. 'Most organizations don't last this long. We're working toward our next 50 years. With this group of people, we'll probably make it.”

Brown said the people who participate in community theater become friends and family, and their families become friends and family as well. That's how they continue the tradition.

While Brown loves the theater, he prefers to stay behind the scenes and direct.

'I don't go on stage because it's too nerve-wracking for me,” he said. 'I really like getting out of a group of people the best they can do. The object of the director is to be invisible. I kind of like that.”

Barb McRoy participated in Mt. Pleasant Community Theatre for the first time this past year directing 'Guys and Dolls.”

Some members of Community Theatre heard McRoy had directing experience and the role of director was hers.

As director, McRoy said she had to wear a lot of hats to make sure the show came together, and while it was a lot of work, she's glad she did it.

'Now, I feel like I really fit in here,” said McRoy, who moved to Mt. Pleasant three and a half years ago. 'Now I feel like I belong.”

Gayle Olson has been designing costumes for Mt. Pleasant Community Theatre since the 1990s when her daughter was in a production of 'The Wizard of Oz.”

'I've always loved to sew and the creativity of doing it on a budget,” Olson said. 'I learned a lot about designing things that look good on a stage. It's a fun challenge.”

Olson's favorite moments of community theatre are when an actor puts on their costume for the first time.

'They start becoming their character and everything else falls away,” Olson said.

Kayleigh Septer performed in her first Mt. Pleasant Community Theatre show as a fifth-grader and continued to perform various productions throughout the years.

Septer said she loves being on stage and she loves to sing. While she doesn't consider herself a good actor, other people have told her there's 'something there,” she said.

'It's a lot of fun to get together and act like not yourself,” Septer said. 'I enjoy being able to be my own version of a character.”

While Mt. Pleasant Community Theatre shows might not be as polished as a professional show, Septer said that they are glad to bring plays and musicals to Mt. Pleasant that residents might not otherwise get to see.

Getting to participate in theater has meant a great deal to Septer.

'It's given me friends I never thought I would have,” Septer said. 'It's opened me up to a new part of the community and given me confidence.”

Nancy Amos started performing with Mt. Pleasant Community Theatre in 1972. She wore her sister's old prom dress for her costume, tripped on stage and knocked down a few other cast members. Everyone laughed, and she said the show must go on.

Since then, she's been in over 30 shows.

'I can't believe it's been 50 years,” Amos said. 'We have a great group and they're always fun to work with. Hopefully it's the first of 50 more years.”

Dan Snavely joined his first Mt. Pleasant Community Theatre show two years ago. Longtime Community Theatre member Lynn Ellsworth 'twisted my arm,” he said.

Snavely said anyone curious about Community Theatre should come try out and get their feet wet.

'Once you do it, you get a bug in you and fall in love with the whole process of theater,” Snavely said.