Touchet Valley Arts Council and the Liberty Theater concluded its last performance of Mary Poppins on December 7. It was our 19th fall musical production, and one of our most successful. When I say “our” I’m referring not only to the TVAC Board or even the Productions group who produced the show. I’m referring also to everyone from the stage crew to the audiences which made it happen. In fact, audiences are a key component to live theater. They are not passive viewers; they are active characters. Each audience brings a unique persona and energy to a show, making that show unique among others. Live theater is a dialogue between those who perform and those who receive the performance.

So I am in no way exaggerating when I say it takes an entire community to create community theater. Any professional actor, dancer or singer will tell you that local community art is the root of any career in the Performing Arts. It starts at church, in the primary dance class, in band at school, a music club or the local theater.

It is almost impossible to know how many hours are logged by every person involved in a fall musical – or any stage production. This year there were nearly 80 persons playing a role in Mary Poppins, even if you never saw them on stage. Each one sacrificed something in order to make the show come alive. This year dancers spent at least five months rehearsing for the show; and some principal actors started working on it earlier than that. None of them were paid in money; they were all “volunteers.” They were paid in friendship, shared struggle and the natural reward of accomplishing something incredible. They were paid in the joy of making others laugh and bringing happiness to those who needed a bit of happy. They were paid in the realization that they could do something they weren’t sure they could do. They were paid by the bond they strengthened as families. They were paid in the knowledge that some little boy or girl was inspired, and some adults were brought to tears of joy by what they saw and heard.

Putting on a live stage production is hard work. It is demanding. It isn’t for everyone. But it is – and has been—the right thing for many, many people. They have contributed as actors, set painters, directors, set builders, stage crews, patrons, donors, dancers, treasurers, costumers, choreographers, singers, T-shirt coordinators, lighting technicians, sound technicians, vocal coaches, musicians, librarians, assistant directors, photographers, floor sweepers, parent coordinators…the list goes on and on.

What I’m trying to say is, Thank You for Mary Poppins. Thank you for keeping the light of Arts and Culture alive. In one way or another it brings us life. That’s why we keep doing it.

Mike Ferrians

Manager, Liberty Theater