A boots on the ground theater debut and a wish come true

I’ve always had a great love of theater. Singing, dancing and acting in my childhood bedroom were very common for me.

As I went through school I did a few things involving theater but not focusing on it, since I wasn’t pushed to do so. In college I minored in theater and learned a lot about all the “in’s and out’s” of putting on shows.

Fast forward into my 30’s and that itch and love of theater called me into a cold audition of a local play directed by my mentor Michael B. Disher. My husband convinced me to audition and I did. From that point on I knew I was to be part of the theater… it was constantly pulling me.

Meeting Bonnie Grice through one of the many plays we did together with Michael gave us a chance to know each other as performers as well as co-creators. We work very well together.

Bonnie had started boots on the ground theater in 2016 and 2 years later I was one of the actors in their production of “The Miracle Worker.” Backstage during one of the shows Bonnie asked if I ever thought of directing… I didn’t.

She then asked me to direct their next production and without hesitation I said yes, but not without a lot of fear. Kinda like: just say yes and then figure it out later!

I quickly realized though… if Bonnie had faith in me that was all the support I needed to be able to create with her. My directing debut was the botgt production of “The Red Badge of Courage.” Working with Bonnie and the rest of the cast made it easy to create a great show.

When she asked me again to direct for her, I accepted graciously and said let’s do a comedy. I LOVE Comedy. She said she wanted to do a Sherlock Holmes play. I immediately said yes! She brought me 5 scripts and I knew this was the one we had to do.

We had an amazing time creating “Sherlock’s Secret Life” in 2020 before Covid took over. We were blessed with a successful opening weekend. Three sold out shows! But as we all know the pandemic put everything on hold.

Throughout the year we (the cast and crew) stayed in touch. As a director you hope and pray that everyone will be able to come back and play their roles that they so wonderfully originated, but alas we had to replace 3 actors due to scheduling conflicts. Covid has affected us all in many different ways. Our set has been in a stand still, a time warp so to speak.

We’re now in the process of read throughs with our new cast members. For those of us returning it feels like we turned back the hand of time. For me, coming back and redirecting this show has made my job even more interesting.  As a performer and/or director, there are times you wish you could do a show all over again, especially one that had so much success the first time around.

Well… my wish has come true.

Our show was great in 2020… this time it will be even better.

Thanks to this amazing cast! ❤️

—Josephine