Cindy Smith and Janae Erickson, Boone Community Theatre, March 02, 2026

On our program today we are going to be talking about Boone Community Theatre. We are joined by Cindy Smith. Cindy, welcome back. Thank you. She made it. Janae Erickson, it's been a while. I know. It's been a while. She's coming back.

But part of the, what I call the, kind of the director team for this. I think Annie is the production that is coming up for Boone Community Theatre. We've held auditions for this. A huge turnout for that.

Cindy was here last month and has mentioned a little bit about it because, yeah, we're getting ready. Christopher Levi is directing and there's a team really that I'm working with because it is a huge cast. So Cindy, auditions first of all, how'd that go?

It was a huge turnout and it was a very tough selection process, but we had so much talent come out for it. We had close to 70 people audition and it blew our minds just the amount of talent that we had come in.

So we knew there was a lot of interest, especially among younger people, those that might want to play Annie. I know you'd said that, or basically that we're going to have auditions. We've got two nights of them.

If we have to on Wednesday, we'll do a callback and you did have to do callbacks. Yeah, we did. We had callbacks for Annie. We actually ended up double casting that. But it was a very, very tough decision. Not easy. It's tough when you got all of them.

All of them are so talented. Absolutely. The amount of talent that we have with these orphans is just absolutely mind blowing. Janay, you got a part, but you were going to be mostly helping direct and everything, weren't you? No, no, no.

I was supposed to be publicity manager for this. So I still will be doing that. I'll be making them do the funny TikToks and stuff. But yes, I also decided last minute to audition just for fun. Just to get in. And yes, she did get a part too. She is playing Lilly St. Regis. Yes.

Little fun, little fun part. So where are we at right now? Again, obviously, you have until the end of April, but this is a lot of music. Oh, I think it was going to say Brooke Mattingly is doing musical director for this. Yep, absolutely.

She came back after Jekyll to join us on the team for directing. She's the music director. We're a couple of weeks into rehearsals now and it's going absolutely great. We'll be starting blocking and script rehearsals and everything here next week and it's coming along great.

For anybody that was around for Jekyll and Hyde, if you're wondering, Michael Holland, I don't think intended to audition for Daddy or for Oliver Warbucks, but he did. Yeah, absolutely.

And he we are so thrilled to have him back with us and he's going to be absolutely wonderful as Warbucks. So he's done. Let's see. Oh, his first show was Suzakol. Suzakol. Yeah, that was last year. And then he did. He came back for the 50th anniversary on the Scavaganza. Yeah.

And then Jekyll and Hyde. So, hey, he's found a place where he gets to do some things and have fun. That's the biggie. That's the biggie. All right. So we're just really getting started on all of this and you got people from all over.

I mean, I mean, we do have a lot of local people in here, a lot of first time people I see and some that have come from elsewhere to be a part of this.

Yeah, we've got quite a few people that are traveling in from the Des Moines area for rehearsals and we are very lucky to have them and very thankful that they're willing to make that trip for the show. Oh, we're so worth it.

I was going to say when I was looking at the list here and I'm going, okay, yeah, well, we got, okay. And for Annie, by the way, Ingrid Oakley, who's, but that is double, double cast, right? Yes, we do have that double cast.

I think this is the first time she's been back on stage for a while, has it? Probably since Suzakul about a year ago. Yeah, exactly about a year ago. Okay. Yeah. For us anyway, she's been doing shows all over the place. That's a thing. Yeah, they are busy elsewhere too. Yes.

But you know, you've got a good one when they, 70 plus or whatever, show up to audition. Yeah, it was a lot. A little overwhelming is now, this is your first time helping on the directing side. It is.

Yeah, this is my first time with the whole directing process, going through auditions and everything. And it was a little bit overwhelming, but I've had a lot of fun with it so far. I could imagine, I would imagine too. This is kind of a crazy first show to direct.

Yeah, I will say that. Well, they are kind of epic. Sometimes they are just epic.

The productions on this, for those that are listening and wondering, Thursday, April 23rd, Friday the 24th, and then double header day on Saturday, April 25th, a two o'clock matinee, seven o'clock in the evening for the evening performance.

And then the next week on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, but you got three in a row evening performances and then a matinee to wrap it up on May 2nd. And tickets already available? Yep, tickets are available. And they are being sold very quickly. Oh, I bet.

I think the last matinee, the May 2nd one is already almost halfway sold out. So, if you want a ticket for that day, I would definitely jump on that. Best way for that would be go online to the website. Yes, go online.

The website and the Facebook page event have the link for the tickets. Yes. Okay. You do have, again, this thing that you've done, you did during Jekyll and Hyde premium seating. Yes. Which would be up front. You got to pay a little extra for it. Yes, five extra dollars.

And then you got the general seating for everybody else. And everybody's ready to go. So I'm guessing background, with all of this, who's doing music? I mean, we mentioned Brooke Mattingly's the musical director, but is it just piano? Like during Jekyll and Hyde?

Yeah, Carrie Galvin is our pianist. And she's doing all the accompaniment during the performances and rehearsals. So she's a little busy. Yeah. That's good. We're working her. That's good. She's so sweet and so kind and very easy to work with from what I've found so far.

Oh, absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. I'm not mad at it. No. Please come back. Please everybody and everybody stay healthy, huh? Yes. Oh my goodness. Yeah. We're getting out of the icky season now. So hopefully it'll be good. Well, again, we'll talk more about this coming up.

But I did want to get into spring break on the youth side. We've got a few youth things that are coming up here in March. It's going to be a big month for youth in March. Spring break. We're going to do a Reader's Theater. Yeah. Reader's Theater Workshop.

We did our first one last year. It went super well. The kids loved it. The parents loved it. It was really fun. It was just a one day on a Wednesday, I think, in the middle of spring break from 9 to 3. Then we do a performance in the evening for that.

So for Reader's Theater, what does it mean besides just reading the parts? We do some costumes, some props, stuff like that. So they get to sign their part when they come in the morning. I believe it's randomized. And then they learn it.

We do blocking and stuff like that during the day. People get a chance to, oh, I have to do this. They're learning. Oh, yeah. It's definitely like, yeah. One day a thing is it's very challenging, but the kids absolutely thrive and they love it.

It's a really good exercise for them. OK. Which is why then you all of a sudden get 70. I'm showing up. Yeah. We're like, OK, now all of you guys also come to the Reader's Theater Workshop. So that is going to be, what, the 18th, right? OK. Yes, March 18th.

And we're doing the show Don't Wake the Dragon. It's a really fun comedy. And I know there's a cost associated with it, but it's part of the youth activity that's going on. Yep, $15 per youth. So and information available on the Facebook page. And on the website as well. Yep.

And you can sign up on there as well. And then coming up, you've already, we already know what productions are going to be done summer the summer camps. Yeah. Youth camps. But auditions for that are yet this month. Also in March as well. Yes.

We want to get those parts assigned and scripts in their hand as soon as possible. So that way they're able to start learning the songs and their lines for the summer. And you are going to be one of the directors. Yes.

Jessica Stanley and I are co-directing the first one in June, the Greek mythology Olympianzo. Olympianzo. Yes. Okay. Anyway, the Greek mythology. Yes. So we've been talking about doing a Greek mythology show for a while. So, all right.

So, uh, again, for that, uh, people will be auditioning same, same. Are we doing both production? Because we're doing one in June and one in July. Yes. So, um, the other show is Alison Wonderland Jr. That's also a musical. It'll be in July. Um, oh, sorry.

The Greek mythology one is a straight play. But the auditions for those will be on the same time. Okay. But you will have to sign up for a time slot in advance to audition. So those time slots are from six to seven or seven 30 to eight 30. Okay. What's your age range for?

Um, eight to 18. Eight to 18. Yep. Very wide. Yeah. And, and you automatically will receive a part if you try out. Okay. That's one thing you guys have done. Well, and sometimes we end up with extra production. Yeah. We're not doing that again this year. We have prepared.

We have been playing this since last summer. We're like, we're not doing that again. Yeah. We got a little challenging there at the end. We chose shows that truly have an unlimited amount of parts. So yeah. Dude, that's what we learned as we go. Oh yeah.

But how important for the youth? Because you know, you were pretty young when you first started. I was in the youth. Yep. When I started with PCC and, and I loved doing the summer camps and stuff like that.

It's a really good chance to, um, to really practice and hone in on, on certain theater skills that you wouldn't necessarily learn. Um, otherwise. So, and you fill out a lot of different areas. I mean, they can help with sets. Mm hmm. Yes. Sound lighting. Yeah.

They learn a lot during the camp, um, the, the week long camp. Um, but we're blocking the entire thing in that way in that one week. But we're really, we're really working hard. Okay.

So those are some of the youth related things that Boone, well, I call it basically Booth youth community theater. I think the Facebook is about the same, same way on that. Yeah. Boone youth community theater. Yes. Check it out.

Parents, if you have a child that might be interested or a young adult. Yeah. And if they just want to come and like observe or something or do tech, that's totally fine.

If they're not wanting to be on stage, there's a million other things they could be doing with tech and it takes a lot of hands. It's one of those things as I talked to, you know, so many years ago, we want to get the youth up there on stage and they get more comfortable with it.

We see it, uh, that was a percent school production. And again, like for Annie, all the things coming up. I see kids starting and they're so timid and, and then a few years later they're in the main role and they're thriving and it's the best thing ever. Not the same kid I saw.

What happened to this? Uh, again, those are all coming up. Do we have any other community theater related? Let's see. First Friday, I'm guessing. Do we have a game night? Oh, game nights are not happening anymore. Okay.

Um, so we're, we're kind of revamping how we're doing events. Okay. Um, the next event is in May and it's, it's a D and D, um, Dungeons and Dragons, one shot night, Star Wars themed. Ooh. So I believe that we'll have more. Yeah. That is May 15th at six PM. All right.

That'll be a good one. Yeah. We have a lot of excitement towards that Friday night. Yeah. It's an amazing how things that just don't go away. Well, so many theater people love Dungeons and Dragons. So I thought, Hey, this is the perfect opportunity to blend it together.

A little bit and see how it goes. Yeah. All right. Uh, again, that's going to be one of the other things coming up and I'm guessing every once in a while you get together and come up with a few other things. Yeah.

So we're planning, at least for this year, we're trying to do every, um, other month we have an event like trivia night or open mic night. Um, or we're going to do the Dungeons and Dragons night. Um, we just did the, um, the youth character character. Yeah. That was on Saturday.

That went really well. Um, so we're kind of just like coming up with different things that we think might work and then things we know work like the trivia night and open mic night. Yeah. So trivia, amazing what it does. Michelle's got to work a little hard on that.

Well, we, we've been trying to help her too. Like, um, I just took over the special events committee. Um, so I'm trying to, um, take the load off of her a little bit cause she's got a lot going on. Um, so, um, we're doing different things to see what, what people like.

And it makes use of your building. Yes. And that's a big thing too, getting people in to, and that's why you have that. Cause we have so much going on, but a lot of it's just rehearsals. Um, and so getting the public in isn't very, very like something we do a lot.

So it's great to have, um, to make use of it and let people come in and see what's going on. Okay. Cindy back to Annie only because as I'm sitting here thinking, uh, rehearsals going on, are we breaking them up in different groups right now or how are you?

Do you have everybody come in at once? That's gotta be a pretty good size. It is quite, quite the large cast. Um, but we do have it split up between rehearsals.

Um, so not everybody's having to travel and, and sit there while we're not focusing on, you know, their song or their scene, um, and kind of give them a little bit of a break.

So yeah, we're, uh, we're splitting things up and just having people that are, um, involved in certain songs or scenes come in. Yeah. So we kind of break it out into different, is it going to be like this act? How many acts are there or things like that? Or is it one nonstop?

Um, no, it's, it's not. That would be really long. It's definitely not nonstop. Um, there are two acts, so there will be an intermission to kind of break it up, but, um, it is a decent length show. But, um, yeah, it'll be a lot of fun.

This is a, what, two pretty substantial musicals. I'm going to say, yeah, two pretty substantial musicals for the, for the community theater to do in, in a regular season. Yeah. Usually it's bigger, uh, venue necessarily venues, but bigger, bigger groups that will do multiple.

But for Boone community theater, that's a, that's a, that's a chunk to take off. Yeah. And we've been getting a lot of, um, people, so it's, it's cool to get to use everyone that we can, you know, in these parts.

So like the directing teams are completely different for the two shows and then different actors. And we had such a quiet little, little thing right in the middle between these two, you know, rumors was funny. It wasn't too quiet. It was pretty loud. Yeah.

It was just downright funny is what it was. And once again, that was the Neil Simon production. The last one we love Neil Simon here. Oh man. Yeah. I gotta love it. Yeah. I was there. It was, it was very entertaining.

It had some really, it had a few new people in there that were doing things. And we love, we had, um, three youth that were doing the lights and sound for that. And it was all almost all of their first time. And so it's really cool to include that. Oh yeah.

I was watching them back there. Oh yeah. Yeah. They're friends too. It's the three girls. They just have a great time. So yeah. Yeah. And, uh, part of it was pay attention. We're doing this now. Right? Yeah. Yep. It's all the learning experience. They did a great job.

I mean, I was only there for two of the shows, but they did a really good job when I was there. So, uh, again, uh, that was, uh, the interim there. Yeah.

It's coming up here, uh, April, uh, and, and, uh, end of the month, you've got eight performances and again, said ticket sales are already going pretty strong. Yeah. Yep. Get online and get those. And again, go for the premium seating. Yeah.

Otherwise it's just downright rehearsal time. This is working time. Now what about costumes? I mean, you got a lot of orphans here. Yeah. Yep.

Thankfully people working with, uh, yeah, we've got a great costumer with Kelsey, um, and a lot of thankfully a lot of the parents have offered to help out with costuming and, and even choreography and, and things like that.

So it's been a great help having the parents there as well. All right. Uh, again, uh, the, uh, I keep thinking of, uh, I mean, they're going to be there and do that, but, uh, set the stuff like that. Who's, uh, is Christopher kind of staying away or heavily involved? No.

It's a team effort, but we do have a wonderful production design or, um, uh, set designer with Wesley, uh, Tina, who was actually in Jekyll and Hyde with us. Once again, attracted by Michael Holla. He just said, Hey, I know this guy's good to be here.

I remember when, yeah, he came in and visited too with his son, but, uh, he was pretty excited and he had been away from theater for a while. So he was just having a good time coming back. Yeah. And then they pulled him right back in and got him even more involved.

Which is, that's really the good thing about community theater. I mean, we've got local people, but you're also open to anybody else in the area that might be willing or interested in doing it. And you've got some very excellent actors and people participating.

Oh yeah, absolutely. Um, we are very fortunate to have the amount of people and the amount of talent that we've been able to get. All right. All right. Follow along again.

You're going to be doing things, uh, on social media, uh, doing all the, uh, TikTok or whatever else, Instagram, Facebook. Um, yeah, all the fun, all the fun things. And also, you know, lots of information coming out about the shows. So be sure to keep an eye on that.

She'll be doing that. Janay does that. That's her business, by the way. Hopefully we'll have a season announcement for next season as well. Very soon. Ooh. Already. Uh-huh. Yep. Well, this, uh, 50th anniversary year, which was a big year, starting with extravaganza. Yeah.

And, uh, doing, having a lot of people come back for that. And then, uh, obviously going with Jekyll and Hyde and then basically the one we called the quiet, quiet one. Yeah. Fun here. Uh, rumors. And then now with Annie. Yep. So big performances coming up. Yeah.

They had quite a few show submissions for this next season. Um, and so they're planning to finalize those this month and then we'll get everything squared away then we'll hopefully be making an announcement soon. All right.

The other big things people need to remember is if you'd like to be a sponsor, please let us know. Uh, yes. Uh, looking for any, any help and support that way because musicals are not inexpensive for community theaters. Yeah. Yeah.

They're, they're quite the charge, but it's really good to get the community involved. And if people are willing to show support in that way, um, we're happy to put you guys in our programs and our social media and stuff like that as our, as our sponsor.

And if you'd like to sponsor our building with a brick. Yes. We have the buy a brick campaign still going. So if you're wanting to have your message engraved on a brick and put in the lobby, then, um, we have, we have farms for that on the website as well.

Just go to a boom community theater.org. Yes. Yep. That's the place. Yeah. Appreciate you taking time coming in, getting us all up to speed on this.

So once again, check that website again, if you want to reserve a ticket early, because apparently this is probably going to be something you're going to have to do. I'm guessing we're not going to have a lot of sales at the door. Uh, yeah. Yeah.

I have a feeling they're going to sell out pretty quick online. Yes. And once we're out, we're kind of out. We don't have much we can do. We have to be, we have capacity limits. So you only have so many people you can get in there. So I do appreciate you coming in.

Thanks so much. Good luck on the, uh, all the rehearsals and everything going on. And once again, we've got readers theater. That's going to be on the 18th.

Again, youth readers theater on the 18th check a Facebook and also the website, uh, for getting signed up for that and auditions for the summer workshops of the summer. All this month. It's going to be a really fun, 23rd and 24th will be auditions for that.

Youth, get ready to be a part of it. We're excited. Thanks for coming in. Thank you.