Old Anxieties, a New Stage

I said the words “I’m Sorry.” to someone who was not really there, and heard the response “What are you sorry about?” from my wife. Her question drew me from the dream, my heart pounding in my chest, a light sweat on my skin, and I realized: it was a dream, only a dream. My response was “Oh, nothing.” and a short pause later “I was reading poorly.” came from my lips with the realization that an old nemesis had returned from my unconsciousness to haunt me in my sleep, and at three o’clock in the morning I was now wide awake and nauseated at my inept response to the dream state confrontation.

The dream was an odd one: I arrived late (of course) to an all staff assembly and was told to go up to the front table where a short play was taking place in which I had a part. I went to sit down and saw the stapled sheets lying there on the table in front of me. A woman from our financial department, whom I get along with well, was leading the play. She had just finished a portion of dialog with someone down the table to my left when she turned to me, just sitting down, and said “And what happened next Mike?” placing me at the forefront of the assembly’s attention. I made up a response saying it aloud as I fumbled through the pages. She asked another more pointed question in turn leaving me no room for an ambiguous response. The person to my right said, in a hushed but clearly audible voice “page 36. Your line.” and I fumbled to the page, saw the all to familiar distorted text and started my slow interpretation of the mangled words.

You see, what my eyes show me on a page is different than what other’s eyes apparently show them. What I see, depending on my restfulness, are the letters of words distorted, overlapped, shifted to the side or vertically, some greyed out. It’s quite confusing and my brain takes it in and does it’s best to interpret the words as seen by others. So, I started reading from the page, slowly; restating or revising words as I went, losing all sense of natural flow. Quickly the queues from the audience came, coughs, sighs, shifting of positions in chairs, and my childhood nightmare was again upon me. With mounting anxiety and embarrassment I said I was sorry to the audience, breaking the fourth wall, but in truth only to the one sleeping beside me.

My second grade teacher discovered there was something amiss with my reading, and this turned into years of improved reading groups, specialists, and visual therapy which bore little results in the end. Like many, I have a disability that affects my reading. This means I read much slower than the average person, and in grade school it meant embarrassment, anxiety, and sometimes utter frustration any time we were reading aloud in class.

You remember, we would all take turns reading a paragraph and then it would be the kids turn who read slowly and threw off the cadence that everyone else seemed to hold. I was the slowest, and the one who struggled most. I was that kid. Amid your frustration with me (the sighs, the shifting in seats, the recognition that I was responsible for ruining the mood: what mood there was) you tried; you asked if you could read it for me, slipped me the words when I took to long in deciphering them, or just glared with a look of consternation on your face.

Oh, and this is still something I struggle with today. When I read aloud at play tryouts, when in a group reading out of a book, I still struggle and fail you. But that’s on the first read.

The theater has given me a chance to make the words my own. I’ve learned to practice line after line, and make the words come out more natural and give you a moment where you want to believe I am someone I’m not. Someone brave, or funny, or intelligent. Thanks to the great folks in our community theater, they have entrusted to me the gift of illusion.

In 2019 a friend asked me to be the lead in a play she wanted to do. I agreed not realizing that my part on stage had lines on all but 5 pages of an 87 page play. It was daunting, and I’m sure my fellow actors wondered about my friends wisdom in casting me in that role. But in the end, it worked. Oh, the actors around me bailed me out of some holes I dug right there on stage during the three performances, but we pulled it off. For these performances, hopefully, the audience saw me not as I am, but as whom I was portraying. At these moments the frightened, embarrassed kid did not exist.

But tonight, there he was again from the deep recesses of my mind he was back and bringing with him all the anxiety felt those many years ago. With my chest still pounding I realized, I have already confronted this menace. I have played a lead part on stage and regardless of the outcome, had delivered pages of dialog to an audience as someone who was not me. I had acted, and transformed the jumbled words on a page to a character if only for a brief time.

The confidence of knowing that I am not bound by a disability is a gift the theater has given me.

Another great show in the books

The cast and crew of Rehearsal for Murder would like to everyone who came to the show! We are very glad the community supports local theater, and without our loyal following, we truly could not have sustained our presence among you for 41 years! You are a big part of what makes Southwest Wisconsin such a great place to live! We can’t wait to see you again in the spring of 2020.

“Rehearsal for Murder” play practice is under way

The Lancaster Community Player’s fall performance of Rehearsal for Murder adapted by D.D. Brooke has been cast and is in rehearsal! Director Ann Dolan and Producer Mike Walter are excited to have such talented actors in our cast! This marvelous murder mystery is a play within a play and the actors represent various people involved in the theatre business on Broadway. Sally Harper plays the flamboyant producer, Amy Alcott is the lovely understudy, Stu Harper is the arrogant leading man, Bill Haskins is the comedic actor, Kevin Koester is the director, Mike Steffel plays the playwright, Lisa Nicolai is the lovely leading lady, and Apryl Bennett plays the secretary and assistant to the playwright. We round out the cast with Kim Marten, Lisa Zabel, Carson Smith and Bo Hansen playing various mysterious roles!

Rehearsal for Murder is a thrilling “theatrical” mystery in which the theatre becomes the set for the play. The playwright turns on the stage lights and prepares for the first reading of his new play. The actors, producer, director and others connected with the show come onto the stage, and under their humorous theatrical talk, tensions grow. We discover that everyone connected with this play was involved with another play by the same playwright. Exactly one year ago and in the same theatre, the beautiful leading lady, who was also the playwright’s fiancee, died!  Suicide or Murder? That’s what we’ll discover when we follow all of the twists and turns of this show!

Performances of Rehearsal for Murder will be on October 25, 26, and 27 at the Grantland Theatre in Lancaster.  

Auditions for “Rehearsal For Murder”

LCP will be holding auditions for our fall show, “Rehearsal For Murder”!

Production dates for “Rehearsal For Murder” will be October 25, 26, and 27. Those who would like to audition for the show should attend one of the auditions.

Audition Times and Locations

  • Monday, August 19 from 6:30 – 9:00 at the Senior Center in City Hall
  • Tuesday, August 20 from 6:30 – 9:00 in the Council Chambers at City Hall

If you are unable to attend either of these audition dates but are interested in a part PLEASE feel free to contact Ann at 608-988-6772 or e-mail to apcdolan@gmail.com  to set up a different time to audition.

“Mamma Mia!” playing April 25 – 28

As Lancaster Community Players (LCP) continues to celebrate 40 years of live, local theater, we proudly present the Broadway smash Mamma Mia! on the Grantland Theatre stage April 25-28, our largest production in 10 years!

This musical is based on more than 20 top hits by 1970s pop phenomenon ABBA and the well-known movie version and sequel that followed. On the Greek island of Kalokairi, 20-year-old Sophie is preparing to marry her fiancé, Sky. She wants her father to walk her down the aisle but doesn’t know who he is. Sophie discovers her mother’s old diary and finds entries describing intimate dates with three men. Sophie believes one of these men is her father and, three months before her nuptials, sends each an invitation to her wedding, writing in her mother’s name, Donna, without her mother’s knowledge.  

Directors Bill Haskins and Doug Mackie have assembled some of the finest talent from the area. Playing Sophie will be Lancaster native Lizzy Wagner in her first show with LCP. The three unknowing dads include established LCP actors Joel Ingebritsen as Sam, Shawn Steinhoff as Bill, and Kurt Meyer as Harry. Donna, LCP newcomer Amelia Armstrong, will be supported by the talents of Margaret Ruf as Tanya and Marcy Russell as Rosie, also LCP veterans. In his first stint on the Grantland stage is Savion Kirk as fiance Sky. Rounding out the wedding party are returning performers Brandi Dreher as Ali and Liz Peters as Lisa, joined by Brady Hattori as Eddie and Steve Olenchek as Pepper in their initial appearance with LCP. Bill Mahaney returns to the Grantland stage in the role of the priest.

Haskins and Mackie have a history of bringing new talent to the stage. This show is no different from their LCP productions of Godspell, Ruthless and The Producers. The Mamma Mia! cast of 26 includes 15 new actors! Returning actors include Lisa Swanson, Kim Martens, and Gretta McKelvey as ensemble members. Ensemble members in their first LCP show are Deborah Lyons, Michael Black, Keri Wetter, and Amy Alcott, as well as Sally Harper, Emily Dhyanchand, Sydney Busch, Ian McCann, and mother and daughter Bev and Mariah Doll.   

Mamma Mia! has a wealth of talent off stage as well. Mackie is the lead choreographer, with Dreher designing two numbers. We are proud to welcome back Larry Busch as musical director, along with a seven-piece band. Todd Johnson’s scenic set design and Cheryl Schmeider’s costuming will transport the audience to an exotic island paradise. And, we’ll be showcasing our new lighting system.

Help us celebrate 40 years of live theatre in Lancaster! Contact Angela Walter for tickets at  608-778-7726. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 25, 26 and 27, and 4:30 p.m. Sunday, April 28. Reserved seating is $15 and balcony seating is $12. Please allow extra time before the show to find parking as downtown Lancaster streets are under construction.

Mamma Mia! is presented by special arrangement with Music Theatre International and is sponsored by Doolittle’s Pub and Catering, Lancaster Vet Clinic, American Bank, and Lancaster Chiropractic & Bloomington Wellness Center along with Inner Harmony Therapeutic Arts and Bodywork.

Another look at LCP’s “Mamma Mia!” (VIDEO)

Here is another taste of Lancaster Community Players’ upcoming production of Mamma Mia! Make plans to attend!

Showing at the Grantland Theatre in Lancaster, WI
Thursday April 25th at 7:30pm
Friday April 26th at 7:30pm
Saturday April 27th at 7:30pm
Sunday April 28th at 4:30pm

Tickets are $15 for reserved and $12 for balcony.
Call 608-778-7726 today to get yours.

“Mamma Mia!” rehearsals continue (VIDEO)

Here is another taste of Lancaster Community Players’ upcoming production of Mamma Mia! Make plans to attend!

Showing at the Grantland Theatre in Lancaster, WI
Thursday April 25th at 7:30pm
Friday April 26th at 7:30pm
Saturday April 27th at 7:30pm
Sunday April 28th at 4:30pm

Tickets are $15 for reserved and $12 for balcony.
Call 608-778-7726 today to get yours.

Video by Eileen Dushek-Manthe