Author

Charise Reynolds

CHARISE REYNOLDS HAS OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE PERFORMING IN MUSICAL THEATER IN SAN DIEGO, LOS ANGELES, AND LAKE COUNTY. SHE’S A FORMER BOARD MEMBER OF THE LAKE COUNTY THEATRE COMPANY AND MOST RECENTLY HAS TURNED HER ENDEAVORS TOWARD PRODUCING.

Lake County Theatre Company Opens Season with Neil Simon’s “California Suite” – Four Stories, One Stage

by Charise Reynolds October 9, 2024

written by Charise Reynolds

The Lake County Theatre Company (LCTC) has announced its 2024-2025 season and first up is a comedy by Neil Simon. What is unique about California Suite is that it’s four mini-plays in one. Each scene takes place in the same hotel suite and features a different couple. We get a glimpse into the relationships of these married (or formerly married) couples in the middle of extenuating situations and heightened emotions. There is tension, denial, hope, panic, fear, anger, and pain both emotional and physical. Yet, in each scene, there is empathy and humor to be found. It is, after all, a comedy. This production, in particular, is also unique in that there is one director, Tim Barnes, and 4 assistant directors. One for each scene. But more about that, later.

The first couple we meet is The Visitors From New York, directed by Jenna Rodgers. Real life married couple Tim and Laura Barnes play William and Hannah, a divorced couple navigating custody issues and raising a daughter. Rodgers, who is also co-producing with Laura Barnes, likens the divorced couple’s relationship to the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly and advises, “Just as the butterfly does not resent the caterpillar, so too should we not look at our past selves with judgment. Sometimes we marry before we are fully developed. A failed marriage doesn’t have to be just a failed marriage. It can also be a journey that catapults us into our individual metamorphoses into complete people.” (Side note: Rodgers is a second-grade teacher in real life, and with that kind of mentality, I know that she must be amazing in the classroom.)

Rodgers also told me that as a new director, she’s enjoying seeing her vision guiding the actors’ movements. She remarked that rehearsals are a little like setting up lessons for her class. She broke things down into beats, communicated and collaborated with the cast, and discussed what motivates their characters. A beat is defined by Acting Magazine as a “slight shift in the thought, tone or action of a scene.”

She’s grateful to be responsible for a single scene. She joined LCTC in 2008 and did play after play after play before taking a break. She came back and joined the board to highlight the needs of the South Shore. She’s especially pleased that this show will open in Lower Lake before moving to Lakeport. She says that she serves her district as a teacher and that serving on the board is a way to serve all of her community.

The second couple we meet is The Visitors From Philadelphia, directed by Rod Rehe. Marvin, Millie, and Bunny are played, respectively, by Erick Kalk, June Wilson-Clarkin, and Jessica Marie. Off-stage, Wilson-Clarkin and Marie are mother and daughter. On stage, they could be perceived as unwitting rivals. This scene deals with the serious matter of cheating while also dealing with a lot of physical comedy.

I asked Rehe about any challenges that he faced directing this scene and he said that one challenge was the rehearsal schedule. Kalk and Wilson-Clarkin had different restrictions when it came to their availability to rehearse. He’s only available after 3:00 p.m. and she’s busy during the evenings. They were all flexible and did a lot of rehearsing anytime Wilson-Clarkin had a cancellation at work.

Another challenge had to do with the space and concept. The company decided to present the show at the Weaver Auditorium in Lower Lake for the first week and at the Soper Reese Theatre in Lakeport for the second week. If you are unfamiliar with those venues, the stage, the backstage, and the wings of the venue in Lower Lake are considerably smaller than the space in Lakeport. Even the lighting and the sound design will have to be different for each venue. Originally, Tim Barnes was just going to direct. However, it is not unusual for people to wear multiple hats in community theatre. Or for there to be fewer actors than actresses. They were a man short, so he stepped into the role of William. But in his role as director, he is responsible for all the details of the show which include last minute changes to the floor plan due to space constraints. Acting, directing; throw in a full-time job (remember this is all volunteer) and you must prioritize. Everyone was patient and the goal to bring theatre back to the South Shore is on track.

The third scene involves The Visitors from London. Directed by Adam McGee, it features Cody Eden as Sidney and Laura Mc Andrews Sammel as Diana. (The late Maggie Smith appeared in the movie version of California Suite and won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Diana.) McGee says the scene is about what love looks like. The character Diana is an Academy Award winner and Sidney is an antiques dealer. “As they discuss what success should look like and their family struggles, there is an undertone that fluctuates between pretense and authenticity.”

For this scene, they started with dialect coaching from Lisa Wentz. (Remember that multiple hat thing I mentioned earlier? She’s also the director of the final scene.) Then McGee had them read the script, do scene studies and script analysis, and determine the emotional arc of the scene, all as a group. Once that was done, they put it on its feet and blocked it in just a few days.

McGee’s first experience directing was as the Assistant Director for Steel Magnolias. While he’s technically an Assistant Director on this show, he’s got much more ownership over this scene. Coming from a primarily acting background, he found his advantage to be the ability to understand character motivation, how to get the actors to communicate with each other on stage and support a scene partner, and where the focus should be.

His scene is a little bit longer than the others, but like Rodgers, he’s happy to focus on a quarter of the play.

In addition to acting as dialect coach, Wentz had her own scene to direct, The Visitors from Chicago. This scene features two best friends and their wives. The older couple, Mort and Beth, are played by Jayson Lyon and Jenifare Martin. Hunter Perrine and Kylie Rovetti play the younger couple, Stu and Gert. Wentz says that like marriages, friendships can also have conflicts. “It’s about tolerating our own shortcomings and those of our friends.” She quoted the Michael Franti song, It’s Never Too Late, and then paraphrased saying, “Basically only those who know and love you can drive you crazy.”

While the other scenes deal with emotional pain this scene also deals with physical pain and is written a bit more humorously than the others, which is probably a good note to end on for a comedy.

This is Wentz’s first show with LCTC. Though she’s worked in San Francisco and London, she’s never done community theater. She says the main difference is that everything’s just on a smaller scale. She was impressed with how dedicated and easy to get along with everyone is. She noted that even though everyone volunteers their time, they all give 100%. She was a bit surprised by how small the acting community is here. Though, she was happily surprised by the level of professionalism of the two teenagers in the scene and their willingness to work. She found it to be on par with seasoned adult actors. Barnes also praised the younger actors who are both 17 and former students of his. He’s enjoyed watching them even though he’s not in the same scene with them.

Wentz’s comment about how small the acting community is here is on point. There are a lot of jobs to fill when putting on a season of shows. The company has to constantly make sure they have people up to the task for each role. Directing is one of them. The company has a policy that no one can direct a show without first having been assistant director on an LCTC show, no matter how much experience they may have. Having a show with four vignettes and four assistant directors is an excellent way to qualify four directors in one show.

Barnes says his role as director is to watch, mentor, and answer questions. He’s there to offer help on blocking, the basics, and whatever else they might need for their individual scenes. The company often partners those who want to work behind the scenes with seasoned veterans to grow the pool of experienced producers, directors, etc. If you’ve ever thought about working on a show, there are lots of ways that you can get involved.

To learn more about joining the company, the 2024-2025 Season, or if you would like to purchase tickets for this show, please go to LCTC.us Tickets are $15 and the show plays at the Lower Lake School House Museum on October 18-20 and at the Soper Reese in Lakeport October 25-27. Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

October 9, 2024

BACKSTAGE LAKE COUNTY

Backstage Lake County: Shakespeare at the Lake

by Charise Reynolds July 24, 2024

written by Charise Reynolds

Each year, Shakespeare at The Lake Director, John Tomlinson, puts his own spin on the shows presented. As You Like It was set in the 60’s, 12th Night was set in space, and The Taming of the Shrew featured gender swapping of the roles. This year’s production of The Tempest, however, may be the most personal to Tomlinson.

Tomlinson says that music and theatre were the two tools that helped him adjust to life and to be more social in his youth. He grew up in a socially conservative household living with his grandparents. They wouldn’t let him wear the hairstyle and the clothes inspired by the punk rock scene of Southern California. He says the punk of the mid 80’s got him through his teen years and theatre got him through his 20’s. When he selected The Tempest as this year’s show, which incidentally was one of the first shows ever in which he acted, he decided why not combine the two things that gave his younger self a sense of belonging.

He says that he’s really been enjoying the process of collaboration on this show and how it has affected the imagination of the Set Designer Karin Hentschel, Costume Designer Barbara Clark, and Music Designer Cody Eden. He loves talking to the actors about how they fit their character’s trajectory into the concept. As a director it’s hard to figure out all the little nuances, but watching the actors grapple with it and have the freedom to figure things out for themselves has been rewarding for all involved.

Hentschel also enjoyed the process. “When John introduced me to the idea of doing the Tempest with an early 80’s punk rock theme, I got very excited, as punk rock has a special place in my heart, as well. The more I read the play and contemplated it, the more I found this concept to be suited to the story in such a profound way.” She says his vision was very clear and intriguing and that trying to visualize it together was a very fun process. The design team included several very creative high school students. They all gathered photos, sketches and ideas for inspiration and discussed the limitations of an outdoor performance venue. (While the entire team was talented and appreciated, Tomlinson was particularly impressed with Hannah Smalley of Clear Lake High and her help with set building and painting.)

The team also built a small model of the stage which kept evolving until they “reached the design that expressed the vision in the best way.” This all took place while punk rock played in the background for inspiration. They tried to repurpose all materials and purchase as little as possible which “emphasized the authentic look of the design.”

Says Tomlinson, “It has been rewarding and meaningful to bring these worlds together. I am so thankful for our amazing cast and crew who are supporting this intensely personal theatre vision.” He is enjoying watching those in the cast who are new to punk really get into it and he says that some of the cast who experienced the music firsthand back in the 80’s auditioned specifically because of the punk rock concept.

The production features lots of original music written by Eden. One of the actors sang acapella during a rehearsal and Eden went home and wrote the music for it. Tomlin says it’s amazing how the freedom and liberty songs of Shakespeare fit the punk rock theme of yelling over music so well. 400-year-old lyrics set to brand new ’80s inspired music. “Cody has done background vocals for the last few shows, but he crushed it with the New Wave, Punk Rock, and David Bowie inspired music he wrote for this show.”

This is all very interesting, but what is the show about you may be asking. Well, in a traditional production of The Tempest, Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan, is a little more interested in his library than in ruling his dukedom. His brother, Antonio, manages the state while Prospero reads and studies his books on magic. Says Tomlinson, “As brothers do in Shakespeare, the one that does the job wants the glory.” Antonio steals his brother’s title of Duke and gets the King, Alonso, to help him banish his brother. Instead of killing Prospero they set him and his daughter, Miranda, adrift in the sea where they eventually shipwreck on an island. Prospero uses his magic to subdue the spirits of the island where they are stranded.

By chance, 12 years later, the King, the King’s brother Sebastian, the King’s son Ferdinand, Prospero’s brother, and some others are passing by the island after coming home from the wedding of the King’s daughter. There is a violent storm, a “tempest,” and the story picks up from there.

In this Punk inspired production of The Tempest, Alonso and Antonio are music producers and represent the big record corporation. All of music is their kingdom. The dukedom is the whole arena of recorded punk rock. They have the power (which they abuse) and social influence.

The “Island” is the name of the punk rock club to which Prospero has been relegated. The action takes place on the outdoor stage behind the club. The graffiti and broken walls represent the anarchic and crumbling world. There are bands and concerts and live music, but Prospero cannot record. Live music is not as influential as recorded music, but he makes it work. He is “surviving.” As his daughter gets older, he feels responsible for his choice and how it affects her and wants a better life for her.

In this 1985 Southern California punk world, the “suits” are the music industry. They are the enemy. They are corporate sellouts. They don’t allow liberty or creativity. At the Island, the characters all wear leather and punk rock inspired hairstyles and clothing. Which is kind of a full circle moment for Tomlinson.

Says Clark, “We lost our original Prospero due to health issues just 3 weeks before opening night. We tried, unsuccessfully, to find a replacement. The logical replacement was John.” Logical because as a seasoned actor and the director, he was already familiar with the lines and blocking. This is the first time in the 9 years of Shakespeare at The Lake that he has had to step into a role. Tomlinson says, with a laugh, that he takes on the role with “reluctance and relish.” He also finds “getting to wear it all now, the leather, the boots, the t-shirts and the fact that the others are embracing it (the concept) as well, to be thrilling.”

I asked his wife what it’s been like helping him learn his lines. Tomlinson has been directing Clark for years. Now their roles are reversed. She’s since stepped in as Assistant Director. She’s been throwing out some of the things that he’s used on her in the past, “What are you saying here?” and “What is your overarching objective?” She says he’s been good natured about it.”

The themes that run through this show are betrayal and conspiracy, but ultimately forgiveness and redemption. Tomlinson finds it to be a welcome change. The Tempest was the last show written solely by Shakespeare and one of his last plays ever. Tomlinson says the playwright, “Mastered his craft nicely. The subplots echo the themes of the major plot. There are similar relationships and how they work out. There are two assassination plots going on during the play and they offer a different way of looking at the same problem. He (Shakespeare) had refined this at this point in his career.”

Tomlinson also notes that the epilogue at the end of the play is really Shakespeare saying goodbye to the Globe Theatre.

Shakespeare at the Lake is a co-production of the Lake County Theatre Company (LCTC) and the Mendocino College Theatre Arts Department.

Show dates are Saturday, July 27 & Sunday, July 28 in Library Park, in Lakeport and Friday, August 2 & Saturday, August 3 in Austin Park, in Clearlake. All shows are FREE and start at 7pm. Bring a blanket or a chair and maybe even a hat. Food and beverages are available for sale or bring your own.

For more information, please visit www.laketheatre.org.

July 24, 2024

BACKSTAGE LAKE COUNTY

Backstage Lake County: Shakespeare At The Lake

by Charise Reynolds July 28, 2023

written by Charise Reynolds

Shakespeare At The Lake (SATL) is ringing in its 8th year with something a little different, a dark comedy. This year’s production is Measure For Measure: The Dramatic Cut!

Every year, Director John Tomlinson edits the script for modern audiences. This year he has cut scenes to create a more dramatic arc. He says he’s taken away the comic relief “B” story leaving the more serious “A” story that deals with darker themes like abuse of power and authority, gender roles, and overall morality. “With so many questions about our leadership here in our own country and abroad, a play like this is very relevant.”

I haven’t seen this particular show before and I was curious as to the meaning of the title. So, I did a little digging and found that even the title is a little dark, most likely coming from the bible. “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with that judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure you meet, it shall be measured unto you again. (Matthew 7:1-2) Or, more simply stated, “An eye for an eye.”

But, not to worry, even though the show is cut a little darker than what they’ve presented in the past, Tomlinson reassures us that there is still a lot of funny stuff and that he’s cast some “solid actors” who “bring the humor to their performances.” (You can get a sneak peek at these actors by going to the Shakespeare At The Lake Facebook page. There are short bios and photos of each actor in costume along with their character names.)

This year there are quite a few new faces, including an entire family in the show. For Tomlinson, one of his personal highlights this year was the auditions. Thirteen-year-old Caitlynn McGee very much wanted to audition for this play. Her desire to be in the play was so infectious that her parents also came along to audition. “Now, the three of them are playing 3 of the major roles in the play, Lucio, Isabella and Angelo. We are grateful for her and she is great in what will be her debut theatre performance anywhere.”

Ed Borg, who plays Escalus and who has been in all 8 SATL productions, echoes Tomlinson’s sentiments. “This year, we have a lot of new people in principle roles. And some incredibly talented 14 and 15-year-olds. Just really talented kids. Solid actors who bring a lot of fun energy.” Along with McGee, who plays Lucio, there is Luke Del Bosco, who plays Claudio, and Emily Fordham, who plays Juliet.

Because many in the cast were new to acting or new to Shakespeare, Tomlinson said, “I intentionally drew more on the creativity of the group, and our ability to create through collaboration. We spent a couple of weeks more than normal just talking about the script. How the character works, and how the story works. Who loves whom, who hates whom, and all of the fun details of the story. This, in turn led to a deeper level of creative involvement for all of our cast members, and we hope it shows in the production”

Borg had praise for Tomlinson and the way in which he conducts rehearsals. “John has a way of making you dig into the characters and ask questions. He’s very keen on word order and keeping things the way they are worded in the script. “Did not you say…?’ as opposed to ‘Didn’t you say…?’ for example. You really have to understand what you are saying.”

“And, he always has an interesting take on casting. He always casts the best person for the part without regard to gender.” And this production is no different, as there are multiple women playing men. Borg remarked that one of the female teens, playing a male, has some very bawdy dialogue. He then deadpanned that he supposed it was okay with her parents since they are also in the play, and the exchanges are primarily with her mother, who is playing opposite her character.

For those of you, like me, that don’t know the show, it is about a ruler, Duke Vincentio, played by Schuyler Marcier, whose city has been operating with very loose laws. He has allowed this to happen, but he doesn’t think that he should be the one to enforce a stricter code. He leaves his deputy, Angelo (Adam McGee), in charge on the pretense of going out of town, but instead hides out in town keeping an eye on things while pretending to be a friar.

Angelo takes the opportunity to make some changes and reinstates an old forgotten law. The play proceeds to explore how the new ruler does with an increased scope of authority and the idea that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Enter Claudio, a young man who has gotten Juliet, the girl he plans to marry, pregnant. Angelo decides to make an example of him. Claudio implores his sister, Isabella to convince Angelo to spare his life. Instead, Angelo offers to let her brother go if she will sleep with him. Did I mention that Isabella is to become a nun soon?

At first, when Claudio hears the news, he is indignant and agrees of course she cannot sleep with Angelo. And, yet, also tells her he does not wish to die. The still-disguised Duke complicates things even more. In his capacity as a friar, he tells Claudio to prepare for death. He then devises a plan for Isabella (still disguised as a friar) that involves Mariana, someone that Angelo was romantically involved with in the past (and whom he had treated very badly).

Good ‘ol Shakespearean hijinks ensue until Angelo’s hypocrisy is found out; the Duke saves the day; and the audience can see that the Duke has been the master puppeteer the whole time. One has to wonder if Shakespeare wrote the play specifically with King James in mind to flatter him or perhaps even to show him how to be a fair and just ruler. We may never know, but that won’t stop anyone from having a good time watching all of the antics unfold.

I’ve attended several SATL productions. Some were set in the 60s, some in modern times, and I believe last year’s production was even set in outer space. This year’s production brings a more traditional feel and is set in the Renaissance era with period costumes. There is a minimalist set and a guitarist on stage playing Renaissance music.

SATL has evolved over the last eight years since its inception, adding a second venue with extra performances and bringing in local food and beverages vendors for each performance. This year they’ve added pre-show entertainment. Faire Measure, a string quartet featuring Renaissance-era music, will entertain the audience an hour prior to curtain.

And, they’ve added a photo contest sponsored by the Clear Lake Campground. Attend one (or more) of the free performances, take some amazing pictures of the show, and then post them to the Shakespeare At The Lake Facebook page by August 8th at 11:59 pm. The photos that get the most reactions on their Facebook page will win. Voting closes on August 12 at 11:59 pm. First place will receive $150, second place $100, and third place $50.

Grab a blanket or chair and come experience a fun show at one of two beautiful outdoor venues. Performances are free and take place at: Library Park in Lakeport on July 29 and 30 and Austin Park in Clearlake on Aug. 4, 5, and 6. Pre-show entertainment and food/beverage sales begin at 6 p.m. The show begins at 7 p.m.

Shakespeare At The Lake is a co-production of the Lake County Theatre Company and Mendocino College, with generous support from the Lake County Friends of Mendocino College, the City of Lakeport, the City of Clearlake and the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce.

July 28, 2023

BACKSTAGE LAKE COUNTY COLUMNS

Backstage Lake County: Meet Tim Barnes

by Charise Reynolds September 22, 2021

written by Charise Reynolds

I’m happy to report that there is another new drama teacher in town! If you are a theatre goer, you may recognize him as Curly from Oklahoma!, as a member of the Lakeport City Council, as the former Mayor of Lakeport, as the former owner of Cheese’s Mainstreet Pizza, as a former Mr. Lake County, or as a DJ you’ve seen around the lake. No matter where you’ve seen him, Tim Barnes is always looking for new challenges.

His latest undertaking as the CTE Drama Teacher (Career Technical Education) for grades 7 through 12 at Clearlake High school and Terrace Middle School was the next logical step after years of involvement in the theatre community.

Born in Anchorage Alaska, Barnes grew up in Barstow. He first got into theatre in elementary school where he would perform in talent shows or band performances as the ‘“filler in between acts.” He continued his involvement with theatre in Middle School and High School and, at one point, found himself in two plays at the same time. One with the highschool and one with the local college. But the high point was an opportunity to spend a semester at the Las Vegas Academy for Visual Performing Arts. Barnes recalls that “It was amazing! I got to spend three periods a day in Theatre, Technical Arts (Lighting Design & Set Building), and Dance.”

After high school, though, he drifted away from theatre and in 2006 he came up to Lake County to visit a friend. He ended up liking the area and the people (he met his future wife here) and stayed. Within 6 months of moving here he found the Lake County Repertory Theatre and that was all it took to get him back into theatre.

It was with this group, and with Norman Winkler and Mill Garret in particular, that he really furthered his education building sets and learning lighting and sound. Barnes jokes that even though the sets were temporary, “Wink’s were always structurally sound enough for someone to live in.”

While Barnes was doing a lot of what he calls skits with story lines, what he really wanted to do was something edgier. Specifically, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. He kept being told that Lake County was “not ready for this” and the area wasn’t really the “right demographics” for that kind of show. The board finally gave in with the stipulation that he also direct.

Barnes had previously helped Pam Bradley at Clearlake High School as the character coach for Grease. He turned, once again, to Bradley who let him assistant direct The Bad Seed in preparation for Rocky Horror. In 2010, Barnes made his directorial debut with The Rocky Horror Picture Show and it was the highest grossing show to date at that time for the theatre company. It was standing room only and sold out 7 of 9 shows. In addition to directing, Barnes also played Eddie.

Of the numerous shows that he’s directed since then, one show in particular stands out, Animal Farm, by George Orwell. Barnes directed the show in 2018, which, given the political scene at the time, was topical. Barnes staged it in a barn at the Lake County Fairgrounds using live animals as part of the stage dressing alongside the actors who were playing animals. The set pieces and costumes were all repurposed or found items. The show was socially and environmentally conscious. A neighboring theatre group produced 1984 that same year (also by George Orwell) and the two groups came to see each other’s productions.

Over the decade plus since his directorial debut, Barnes has become very well rounded at directing, designing and building sets, doing lighting and sound design, and acting regularly with the group which eventually merged with the Lakeport Community Players to become the Lake County Theatre Company. He also served on the theatre board for about 10 years, even becoming president at one point.

Some of his notable roles include Curly from Oklahoma!, Kronos Liskin from The Producers, Charlie Gordon from Flowers for Algernon, RP Mc Murphy from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Eddie from The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Lancelot from Spamalot, Jitter from The Musical of Musicals, The Musical!, and Bottom in A MidSummer Night’s Dream. He also appeared in the Tuna Series with Rod Rehe each playing 11 parts.

His wife, Laura, a teacher at Kelseyville Elementary is also very much involved in theatre. Together they created several fundraisers for the Lake County Theatre Company including the Mr. Lake County Pageant, the Art of Magic, and Adult Prom. Barnes also served as the third Mr. Lake County following Brian Martin and Larry Richardson.

I asked him what made him decide to get into teaching. He said he’d always toyed with teaching drama and two years ago a position came up at Terrace Middle School. He missed that opportunity, but he and his wife decided he should really go for it and so he enrolled in a credentialing program. As part of his training he went to Lower Lake Middle School and taught English and History to seventh graders. The last two years he spent teaching at Lower Lake Elementary.

At the end of the last school year he interviewed for the Drama position at Middletown High and then got the call that they had gone another route. He found out later that another one of the members of the theatre got it. And, while he was disappointed that he didn’t get the job, he was “super happy that somebody local” he knew got it.

Shortly after that he saw a listing for CTE Drama Teacher. He interviewed and got the job. He thinks it probably helped that he dj’d prom there last year and he’s thinking they’ll probably utilize his skill set for that again. What started out as disappointment at missing out on the Middletown opportunity turned into absolutely the best case scenario. Because he works in Lakeport, he now gets to ride his bike to work. He’s home with the kids a lot sooner than he would have been had he landed the job in Middletown. And, he’s teaching in his same community.

Barnes is currently half way through a multiple subject credential. He had enough practical experience coupled with his AA in Theatre and bachelors in Business Management to secure his position. And, he’s got big plans for his students going forward. He wants to bring back the countywide drama competition for high school kids including monologues, duets, and short one act plays. He’d like to take his kids to the Linea Festival (a larger competition) at Sac State. And, he plans on starting a Lakeport chapter of the International Thespian Society, an honor society for highschool and middle school theatre students. He also wants to do two shows a year with his students. His hope is a Spring Musical and a drama in the fall. Rehearsals for the fall show started last week.

For theatre fans out there, just because he’s teaching doesn’t mean he’s giving up theatre. He’s still very much interested in directing shows (he doesn’t alway feel the need to be on stage), and continuing to act. He says the title character from Sweeney Todd and the Dentist from Little Shop of Horrors are on his bucket list. And, based on his tenacity, I think he’ll eventually get his wish. Welcome Tim Barnes! You’re students are lucky to have you.

September 22, 2021

BACKSTAGE LAKE COUNTY COLUMNS

Backstage Lake County: Meet Middletown High School’s New Drama Teacher

by Charise Reynolds July 7, 2021

written by Charise Reynolds

Middletown High School has a new drama teacher. After many years, Mrs. Cynthia Radford has retired and one of her former students, Carrie Ann Eve, is stepping up to take her place. Eve will be teaching Drama for the ninth through twelfth grades, Advanced Theatre, and Technical Design. She will also take over the Drama Club and the National Thespian Society for Middletown. She was the President of the Middletown High School Branch when she was a student at Middletown High School and she finds it pretty cool that she’s come full circle.

Eve was born in Woodland, but she has strong ties to Middletown. Her family moved to her grandparent’s property here when she was two. Her great-grandparents acquired the land in the 1950’s and her great-uncle and godfather also raised cattle in the area. Her father is longtime Middletown resident, Craig Eve.

Eve started taking dance lessons when she was just 4 ½ years old. She studied with Jamie Zimmerman Bransicso and Bernadette Alverio back when Expressive Motion Dance Studio was still in Middletown. Her love of dance continued through high school where she discovered Drama. She loved the class which she took for all four years. And, it helped her to grow more confident in her speaking and as a performer.

When she was a junior she found out about the Renaissance Christmas Pageant at the Middletown Methodist Church. She volunteered to be a serving maid to get her community service hours. After the show was over, she decided that she “definitely wanted to do that again.” The following year she auditioned and became one of the youngest players in the pageant. It was during that show that she found out about the Lake County Theatre Company (LCTC) and began performing and stage managing with them.

Her high school Drama class organized a trip to Ashland, Oregon to see the shows at the annual festival. As a result of that trip, she was inspired to continue doing what she loved, performing, and to apply for Southern Oregon University. After she was accepted, she stayed in Middletown just long enough to perform in one last show with LCTC, Romeo and Juliet, and then headed off to college in the Fall of 2011.

While there she received her BA in Theatre Arts and a Minor in Shakespearean Studies. Her core classes allowed her to learn about everything: Costume, Stage, Lighting, and Sound Design. She took directing and began directing cabaret and black box shows. For her electives she took dancing and puppetry. She also got an opportunity to choreograph the Adams Family musical for the local high school. It was her first experience with a high school age production.

She stayed in Ashland for a few years and spent her time performing with the Camelot Theatre Company, the Randall Theatre Company, and Thanks for the Memories Theatre. She spent most of her time rehearsing for one show by day and then leaving to go perform in another at night. After appearing in 16 musicals in a row she decided to go head to San Diego for a change, but didn’t really have much luck there. So, she moved home to restart in January 2019. Her family had just finished rebuilding after the Valley Fire and had room for an extra person. She decided to become a substitute teacher because “you just needed a BA” and because the theme throughout her life has always been to just “try it and see if it works and it usually works.” True to form, she started teaching about two weeks after she returned home.

She also rejoined LCTC and started volunteering for various shows. She was one of the backup dancers for the group’s fundraiser, the Mr. Lake County Pageant. It was there that she met and fell in love with one of the contestants, her now fiance, Tim Laubach. She also began substitute teaching for Jeanette Marchais at Studio Ballet Works out of Kim’s Dance Factory and even appeared in Marchais’ first staging of the Nutcracker in Lake County. (Look for her in this year’s staging at the Soper Reese theatre where she will perform and assist in the production)

Around that time, a teacher she knew needed someone for kindergarten. So, Eve enrolled in a degree program and worked through the necessary classes to get credentialed. She worked at Eastlake Elementary and taught Kindergarten in Clearlake and then second and third grades. When the pandemic hit she began teaching third grade at Kelseyville Elementary School online. This last March she taught a hybrid class where the students spent half the day online and the rest of the day in person.

She always knew that she loved performing, but it wasn’t until she started teaching that she discovered her love of teaching. She loved “discovering things” with her students and all the heartwarming things they did. Even though the pandemic year was crazy, her students “kept her going when things were tough.”

Recently, she was sick in bed, not feeling well, and scrolling online when she saw the job posting for the Middletown High School Drama teacher. She leapt out of bed, ignoring how she felt to gather transcripts and letters of reference. “I saw the notice and I thought, this is mine. I want this!”

She ended up interviewing with some of the very same teachers she remembered from her days on campus, and she got the job. While the 5’4” Eve realizes that switching from third graders to high schoolers who tower over her is going to be a big change, she thinks the biggest difference will be her students’ sense of humor which she’s looking forward to.

She’s also looking forward to getting to teach acting (not just academics) and reading plays with historical context that will fit in with world history. She hopes that her students will find they love performing, or costume building, or just enjoy being audience members. She hopes that she can peak their interest in the arts.

And, she won’t be entirely on her own in this endeavor. Radford, her mentor and predecessor, left her all of her lesson plans and stacks of books. Eve is looking forward to all of her new summer reading. In particular, the teachers’ edition of the same book she had when she was in Drama class.

Eve says she found theatre because of this school and she’s glad to be able to give back to the Middletown Community and the high school that shaped her. And, we are glad to have her back. Welcome home, Carrie Ann Eve.

July 7, 2021

BACKSTAGE LAKE COUNTY COLUMNS

Backstage Lake County: 70 Ways to Keep the Family Entertained on Your Staycation

by Charise Reynolds April 8, 2020

written by Charise Reynolds

Normally, this column is all about theatre, but it’s a little hard to do that when all the schools and local theatre groups have had to cancel or postpone their productions. I could write about the heartache and logistical issues that come with postponing a show. However, between all the fires, and PSPSs, and now sheltering in place, I think we’ve had enough bad news and negativity to last us a while. So, this month’s column will focus on ways to keep ourselves and our families engaged and entertained. After all, isn’t that what theatre is all about?

It can be tricky to come up with activities that aren’t costly (many of us are not collecting a paycheck right now), or that don’t require adult involvement (for those working from home), or that don’t necessitate internet access (for those who don’t have internet). Some of you may be stretched too thin and just don’t have the time to be creative. But, I’ve always been good at rainy day activities, so I thought I would give it a go and try to come up with some activities to keep us all entertained. Some of these ideas I stole from my friends, some I stole from all the ideas going around Facebook right now, and some I regularly employ here at my own house when I sense my child has had enough electronics.

I’ll give you a few suggestions (70 to be exact) and you can decide which ones are age appropriate for your child. Keep in mind, somethings have no age limit, like, (#1) Play Doh! We love Play Doh and kinesthetic sand (#2) at my house. My son, Jimmy, is 10 ½ and though we don’t play with that stuff nearly as much as we did when he was little, whenever the internet is down or he’s bored, it works every time. Home made slime (#3) is always a hit if you have the ingredients on hand or can pick them up when you are out getting groceries. Lego’s (#4), bubbles (#5), and crayons (#6) also fit the bill for simple and you probably already have them on hand.

Another thing I like to do is to make old things new again by rearranging the toys in his room (#7). I did this recently and Jimmy was happily playing away with things he hadn’t given a second glance in a long while. He was completely unaware that I had orchestrated the whole thing simply by rotating the toys and moving things into his line of vision.

We also love puzzles (#8) and board games (#9) at our house and have a ton of them. You can always teach your kids poker (#10) or rummy (#11) so you have someone to play with. Nothing like a new game to hold their interest. Do you have anything you only bring out for certain situations? Say when you go camping? We always like to play ladder golf (#12) when we go camping. We also have a croquette set (#13) and lawn jarts (#14) in the garage that we haven’t used in a while. I think I’m going to go find those now that it’s Spring Break.

If you’ve exhausted those activities or if they don’t seem like anything very special, how about painting? After one of the fires a few years ago we spent a lot of quality together time painting rocks. I still have a bucket of rocks that we collected from our yard and washed. We painted pictures and one word of inspiration on each of them and then left them around the neighborhood for people to find (#15). We spent spent the whole time we were out placing them wondering about who might find them and whether or not it would make a difference in their day. If you want to paint on paper (#16), canvas (#17), flower pots (#18), or frames (#19) you can get those supplies while you are out grocery shopping, or you might even have some of them around the house. If it’s nice outside and you have little ones, a bucket of water, a paint brush and the fence or the side of your house, also work well (#20). Another idea I saw on line was to lay out a piece of paper and a toy dinosaur and let your child trace the shadow it casts (#21). Super cheap!

Something I am still fascinated by and haven’t played with in a couple of years are Shrinky Dinks (#22). Does anyone remember those? You would drawn on them and then pop them in the over and watch them shrink and get brighter in color. Well, they’ve evolved from our day. They still have the ones that you draw on and bake, but now they also have some that you can print on and bake. The ideas are endless: key chains, luggage tags, charms, just don’t forget to punch your holes before you bake them. Give your child some examples and then let them create. If you can’t find them online, how about making some salt dough Christmas Ornaments(#23)? Flour, salt, water, and either paint, food coloring or markers. Tactile AND crafty.

We also have something at our house called Story Cubes. They are basically dice with simple pictures on each side. You roll the dice and then make a story using all the pictures that land face up. There are 9 six-sided dice. You can order some if you like, or, you can have everyone in the family draw pictures on little slips of paper and stick them in a jar (#24). Then, the fun begins. When you’re all done, shake them up and have the first player pick 9. Start with “Once upon a time” and continue telling the story from there. The story is done when all 9 slips of paper have been used. Then, put the slips back, shake the jar, and pass it to the next person.

For those of you who have internet, there are some fun tutorials going on right now for free. Mo Willems of “Don’t Let the Pigeon” fame presents Lunch Doodles (#25), a guided tutorial for littles on drawing. On Facebook, the You Can Play That page live streams a half hour music theory lesson (#26) each week day at 8 a.m. The lessons are also posted under videos on the page if you prefer to start at #1 and work through them all. My son particularly enjoys these videos. Another site that we discovered only recently, though technically not a tutorial, that is good for keeping your children busy is Chrome Music Lab (#27). Just let them poke around on this site and make “music.”

When I first heard that school was going to be canceled, I immediately looked on line for work that I could assign to my son and things to keep him busy should the teachers need more time to come up with lesson plans. I found articles on beat boxing, gaming, and a really cool YouTube video titled Sergei Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. The conductor, Prokofiev, breaks down the story and tells the audience what each instrument represents. He alternates between the music and his verbal set up of what’s about to happen. I really think kids of all ages will find it interesting. The nice thing about the internet is you can look up any subject that your kids specifically might be interested in and watch some videos together (#28). Or find a recipe for slime or learn how to make paper airplanes (#29) or watch baby animals. If my suggestions don’t appeal to you, think about what your child does like and go from there.

I have a couple of go-to rainy day activities that would be great to employ right now just as a change of pace. Indoor hide-n-seek is super fun (#30). Some times you have to call out while you’re hiding if your child is younger to make sure they don’t get frustrated. It was always so funny to watch Jimmy hide in the exact same spot we’d just hid in because he thought it was a good one. Scavenger hunts (#31) are also loads of fun indoors or out. You just have to come up with clues like, “where we bake pizza” (oven), “where we dry the clothes” (dryer), “where Dr. Seuss lives” (your book shelf). You’re gonna give them that candy bar/new DVD/back of Doritos anyway, why not make them find it? And, don’t forget about on line scavenger hunts (#32). You can require them to look up information and fill in the blanks.

The one thing kids love the most, and probably what we don’t do as often as we should, is when we get down on their level and play with them (#33). Whether it’s Barbies, tanks, or electronic games, kids love it when we do something we normally don’t do with them. Turning on some music and dancing (#34) or having a little Karaoke session with them (#35) can be lots of fun. If you have an Alexa Show, or a karaoke machine you can play music and the words at the same time. If not, YouTube also has karaoke versions of songs.

Kids aren’t the only ones trying to figure out what to do with themselves, some adults are getting restless, too. I was just talking to my mom today and I mentioned that we should do some of our Shutterfly digital scrap booking now so that we can take advantage of the sales when they come up. Do you scrapbook (#36)? Do you need to organize or scan some family photos (#37)? Maybe you need to pull those photos off of your cell phone and get them printed (#38). How about going through the old photograph albums with the kids (#39). My son loves to watch family movies and hear stories and about when he was little and about when my husband and I were little (#40).

Now is also a good time to call up your parents and reminisce with them about the old times (#41). And while you’ve got them on the phone, why not get some family recipes from them (#42) or jot down some family history (#43) or start a family tree (#44)? The great thing about calling them is that you will occupy some of their downtime, too. We’ve had to cancel the last two trips to Oregon to visit my parents. Once at Thanksgiving when the roads were closed due to snow, and, now we just can’t leave the house. Set aside some time to Face Time, Skype, or call the grandparents (#45). Have your children write them letters and send them drawings (#46). Just make sure you seal the envelope with water. And, if you don’t want to actually send those items for fear of germs, you can always scan them or snap some photos and send them virtually. And, don’t forget about those funny Snap Chat photos (#47). I bet Grandma would love some of those, too.

Family spa time is another fun activity to try. If you have girls you can do hair and paint nails (#48). I can also tell you that boys and husbands, while they may not want their nails painted, do enjoy having their nails trimmed and filed. Especially if you pair that with a foot massage (unless they happen to be ticklish). Get those kids to learn how to give a firm shoulder and foot massage and you may find an activity you want to do even when you’re not sheltering in place. I’ve even seen some of my friends with kids posting photos of their dress up play as a family (#49). The point is, try something you normally wouldn’t do with a particular gender (#50). You just never know what the kids will enjoy.

One particular activity that I am saving and really looking forward to this year is Easter. I’ve already gotten my eggs and my dying kit for the hard boiled eggs that will be hidden at home. And, I’m going to make decorating the eggs a family event (#51). Sometimes the husband doesn’t participate, but this year, he’s gonna. I also have some egg and bunny shaped molds. I like to make bath bombs (#52), but if you are so inclined, you could make chocolates (#53). For the less adventurous, baking chocolate chip cookies (#54) is always a treat. No need to wait for a holiday. We made whole wheat zucchini bread with chocolate chips the other day and everyone perked up. Hey, it’s also a lesson in fractions if you double the recipe. Now is the perfect time to teach your kids how to bake or cook (#55).

Especially, if you are going to start experimenting in the kitchen, don’t forget to schedule at least 30 minutes outdoors taking a walk (#56) or riding bikes (#57), scooters (#58), or skating (#59). Getting outdoors and moving is a great way to ward off depression. We took some chalk on our walk the other day and drew pictures and left messages for our neighbors in their drive ways (#60). My child who wanted only to play on his Xbox was motivated to walk even farther after the first drawing. I also got him to use our elliptical machine by letting him watch YouTube while he walked (#61). He’s even asked to walk longer so he could watch more videos. Hey, a mom’s gotta do, what a mom’s gotta do to keep her kid moving.

Speaking of Xbox, PS4, or whatever gaming system you have at your house, go ahead and let your kids play (#62). Seriously. Right now, it’s one of the only ways kids are staying in touch with their friends while they are out of school. You can limit the time, if you like, but they miss their friends, too. The game gives them a way to interact.

Surprisingly, the person that’s been acting the most like a cat in a roomful of rocking chairs has been my husband. He constantly has to be doing something. I personally am planning to use this to my advantage. There are a few honey-dos (#63) I’ve been hoping he’d get to and surprisingly, he brought up the biggest one all on his own. Looks like that laundry room is finally going to get painted!

I have an elderly neighbor that golfs about 3 times a week. I suggested to his wife that now might be the time to drop some putting holes into their back yard, but I also saw a simple project on line to keep the kids busy and maybe my neighbor, too. It involved tuning a box upside down and cutting different sized holes in the box. Voila, instant indoor putting (#64)!

There are also a number of companies that are allowing free or reduced price access right now for audio books (#65), movies (#66), and websites (#67). I’m not going to list them, I’m sure your friends and family have already done that on Facebook. There are also some free theatrical and operatic performances (#68) being released weekly. And, don’t forget about zoo and aquarium cameras that are being live streamed (#69).

My last suggestion is something that I will be doing myself. Every year I’ve wanted to put an entry into the Lake County Fair. Why not check out the various contests (#70). Last year there was baking, cookie decorating, flower arranging, photography, and lots more. Browse through the 2019 list and then keep an eye out for the link to the actual contests for 2020.

I hope some of my suggestions sparked ideas for you to try with your family. If you do try any of the activities, let me know how you fared. Maybe send me a photo of you and your family testing them out. Stay safe, stay strong, and stay one step ahead of the kids.

April 8, 2020

BACKSTAGE LAKE COUNTY

by Charise Reynolds January 8, 2020

written by Charise Reynolds

As a parent and a performer, I was very excited last year when I learned that someone was putting on a children’s theatre camp in Hidden Valley. I’m always looking for things to keep my child occupied over the summer break and what could be better than sharing my passion with him, and so close to home!

That someone turned out to be Stepheny Moore Johnson.

Moore Johnson got the acting bug at the age of 6 when she performed in an elementary school production of The Music Man. She followed that up by joining a local theatre company directed by Alex H. Urban founder and director of the largest educational theatre network on the West Coast. “From that day on performing was a huge part of my childhood.”

Her father, Steve Moore, who spent his summers in Cobb as a child, first moved his own family to Lake County in the 80’s and then, again, in 1995 when the family purchased the property that would become the Moore Family Winery.

Moore Johnson enrolled as a freshman at Justin Sienna High in Napa because of their “award-winning theatre program” led by Urban. She went on to perform all over California in various shows produced by Urban’s theatre program including Into the Woods, Bye Bye Birdy, Oliver, The Wizard of Oz, and Peter Pan.

In 2000, after graduating from Chico State with a BA in Liberal Studies, she moved to Napa where she met her husband, Gary Johnson, Trade Relations Specialist for Trefethen Family Vineyards. She also became the choreographer and director of a children’s theatre in Sonoma County.

By 2010, she was still living in Napa and running Moore Family Winery in Cobb which she says was, “challenging.” So, the family packed up and moved to Hidden Valley to be closer. For the last 13 years, she has been the Director of Hospitality for the winery. In recent years she did double duty as the General Manager at Black Rock Golf Course which is also owned by the family.

Like many performers, Moore Johnson never lost her passion for theatre, she merely put it on hold to focus on her kids. She had been toying with the idea of starting a children’s theatre ever since moving back to Lake County, but due to the commitment needed to start a Children’s Theatre she opted to wait until her kids were a little older. When the time finally came, she decided to “test the waters” by putting on a theatre camp. She applied for a business license and Center Stage Kids Children’s Theatre was born. She was delighted to have 50 kids sign up for the camp. For many of them, it was their first time on stage.

She worked with the little kids in the morning and the older kids in the afternoon. The week-long camp culminated in a show comprised of solos and group numbers with all of the kids. (As an audience member, my son attended the camp, I couldn’t believe how good the performances were in less than a week’s time.) With the summer camp over and the kids wanting more, she turned her efforts toward becoming a Non-Profit 501(c)(3) and began preparations for a full-length production.

Moore Johnson ultimately decided on Annie. When I asked how she selected Annie for the company’s first production, Moore Johnson replied, “Well, who doesn’t love Annie! It’s a heartwarming tale of the little orphan Annie and what it means to be a family. It’s filled with upbeat musical numbers and memorable characters that everyone knows and is destined to have the audience on their feet.”

Moore Johnson herself has been a part of over 10 productions of Annie. Over the years she’s played an orphan, Lilly, Miss Hannigan, and has also choreographed and directed the show. “This musical means a lot to me and I know it will be a great introduction to musical theatre for many of the kids.”

She’s taking a little bit of a different approach with this production. There will be no auditions for the show. “There will be a place for everyone who registers.” Weekly rehearsals will begin in late February at Coyote Valley Elementary in Hidden Valley. That is a big deal for our side of the lake as most productions in this county rehearse in Lakeport. This show will afford many kids an opportunity to perform who otherwise would not be able to participate simply due to local.

Center Stage Kids is also going big for it’s first production. The kids are going to get the experience of performing at one of the county’s largest venues, the Soper Reese Theatre in Lakeport. The show is scheduled for May 29th through the 31st.

It takes a lot of money to put on a musical. Obtaining the rights to the show is usually one of the biggest costs. To fund the production, Moore Johnson is selling 50/50 raffle tickets. Tickets can be purchased through any of the students or by messaging her directly via her website or Facebook page. They are $10 apiece. The winner will be selected on January 11^th and need not be present to win. The child that sells the most raffle tickets will have their registration fee for the production waived. So, if you know one of her students, you might want to buy your tickets from them.

In addition to Annie, Center Stage Kids is now offering theatre classes for local home school charter kids in Middletown at Kim’s Dance Studio. Classes are held on Wednesdays from 10 am to 11 am for those eleven years old and up and from 11 am to 12 pm for kids six to ten years old. A weekly Preschool Performers Class begins Wednesday, January 8^th at 9am for kids three and up. And, summer camp will continue. This year’s camp will be June 22nd through 26^th with the performance on the 27^th.

But, Moore Johnson is not stopping there. She’s referring to Annie as the “Spring” Production. Her long term goal is to have a Spring and a Fall production and to continue with the summer camps. The productions are not limited to kids. Older family members may enroll and act with their children.

As a parent, I am so pleased to have more choices for my child in my county. Especially, now, when the arts and music have been cut or severely curtailed in our schools. And, as a member of a local theatre company I am excited at the prospect of growing future generations of adult performers and appreciators of theatre in our community. Center Stage Kids is poised to fill a void in our community. I will be excited to see where Moore Johnson takes it.

If you would like more information on classes, summer camp, Annie, how to purchase raffle tickets, or how to become involved, please check out the website at www.centerstagekidsca.com or the Center Stage Kids Children’s Theatre Facebook page.

January 8, 2020

BACKSTAGE LAKE COUNTY

BACKSTAGE LAKE COUNTY: MEET KIM GREEN

by Charise Reynolds November 6, 2019

written by Charise Reynolds

Great theatre does not begin and end upon the stage. For every great performance, there are years of hard work and dedication. As any athlete will tell you, if you want to perform well, you must train. And, those of us who enjoy the challenge of performing in musicals train in three main areas: acting, singing, and dancing. That can be rather challenging when living in a rural community. Fortunately, for Middletown, we have Kim Green and Kim’s Dance Factory to cover the dance training.

Kim Green met Gene Kelly when she was two, sort of. Her Nana shoved her into his arms. Something must have rubbed off from that brief encounter as she has been dancing since she was three years old. She grew up dancing in the living room to movies like Cabaret, Easter Parade, Flower Drum Song, and Oklahoma! Eventually, her Nana got her into Encore Studio in El Sobrante under Jeannie Pounds, a former child star of Vaudeville. In the ’40s Pounds appeared on The Little Rascals as a dancer with Darla Hood.

Soon, Green was choreographing for the neighborhood kids, selling tickets, and putting on shows in her driveway. In high school, she moved on to choreographing school shows and the cheerleaders. She continued her training in Oakland and San Francisco with various popular teachers of the time studying ballet, tap, jazz, baton and even becoming a competitive ice skater. She also tap-danced across the bay with Rosie the Radiator, a big tap diva out of San Francisco, for the world record book.

She started her first dance studio in Crockett California in the mid-90s. She went on to join a local dance studio in Rodeo, California called Steps Dance Studio and became the top “comp” teacher there where she won comp awards at the national level in Las Vegas for choreography. (Comp is just short for competition). Over the years she has had many students go on to do amazing things. One student, Ashly, who trained with her for years is now a co-director of Fiscal Roots Dance Company in Oakland and is also teaching. Another student, Leah, went on to dance in Cirque du Soleil in Vegas. Two former dancers have become Raiderettes. Another student went on to become a dance teacher and has guest taught at her studio here in Middletown.

Green met her husband Darren at a dance club in the city. It turned out his daughter was a dancer at her studio, but Green had just never seen him. “He was an awful dancer, but I decided to give him a shot.” 19 years, 2 step-children, and 3 children later they are still together. All of her kids have danced. Her oldest Cody loved hip hop and tap. Her daughter Maddy went on to join comp dance teams, but stopped in high school to pursue cheerleading. Green who is currently “forcing” her youngest son, Dax, 15, to dance, says that secretly he enjoys it.

She and her husband decided to make the move to Hidden Valley Lake to raise Dax in a small town environment. When her local hairstylist, LaTrease Walker, found out that she used to teach dance, she insisted that Green start teaching again.

Green originally had a studio in Hidden Valley as part of Muscle Matrix, but moved it to Middletown in 2017. She’s grown her studio since the move. She’s added a mini team for comp dancers between the ages of 7-9 including one boy. They are her “Dynasty ” dancers. She has her “Galaxy” team which is comprised of her intermediate dancers ages 10-13. Her top “Legacy” dancers are ages 13-18 which also includes 2 more boys. Says Green, “We are growing in biz and getting more boys which is very exciting.”

Currently, students can take hula, hip hop, jazz, tumbling, contemporary, and tap. Another instructor, Jeanette Marchais teaches ballet. Green would like to add TAPfit to the lineup. TAPfit is a new program out of Australia where her family is from. It is a mix of Jazzercise with tap making tap easier to grasp to a bigger population. This summer she has plans to add drama classes two mornings a week with Stephanie Johnson of Center Stage Kids Children’s Theatre. (Johnson will be the subject of one of my columns in early 2020.)

Green periodically invites guest teachers to “expose her dancers to the big dance world outside of Lake County.” Recently, she invited a hip-hop dancer out of L.A. named Jalen. Jalen was on “World of Dance ” with the dance crew “S-Rank” and he performed for the Nickelodeon’s Kids Choice Awards in Mexico.

The studio has also started entering competitions and winning awards. Their most recent awards at the Rainbow Competition in Sacramento was a platinum performance which is a first place and judges’ choice for dancing with the most passion. And, this year they took home the Big Kahuna trophy for Middletown Days for their line dance to Old Town Road.

Upcoming performances for her students include the annual performance in front of the studio for Christmas in Middletown on Saturday, December 14th, bringing more pieces to the Lake County Spring Dance Festival in April, and holding their Annual recital at the Twin Pine Casino.

Through all of her endeavors, her contractor husband hates that her work makes for late-night dinners, but builds anything she can dream up. He actually built her studio in Middletown and laid her special flooring.

When asked what she enjoys the most about what she does, Green says, “I love to choreograph the most, but I do love my littles. And, seeing their love and talent grow in dance, I feel so lucky to do what I love.”

If you or your child are interested in training at Kim’s Dance Factory, Green can be reached via Facebook by searching Kim’s Dance Factory or by calling (707) 439-6610. There are classes available for all ages. The studio is located at 21037 Calistoga Road Suite 5, Middletown, California 95461

Final Weekend for Chicago

Chicago runs at the Soper Reese Theatre in Lakeport Friday, November 8 & Saturday, November 9 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, November 10 at 2:00 p.m. If you plan on seeing this “must-see” musical, you had better buy your tickets online and fast. Typically, the closing weekend for the Lake County Theatre Company musicals sells out. Full disclosure, yours truly plays the part of Mama Morton in this highly entertaining musical. For tickets go to LCTC.us or call 707-263-0577

Auditions for Alice in Pantoland:

The Lake County Theatre Company (LCTC) is looking for children and adults to audition for Alice and Pantoland Wednesday, November 13 at 6: 00 p.m and Saturday, November 16 at 2:00 p.m. Auditions will be held at the Kelseyville United Methodist Church at 3810 Main St., Kelseyville, CA 95451. Everyone ages 10 and up are encouraged to audition.

A Panto is an English farce play. There is gender-bending and it is meant to be a family program. It is very interactive between the audience and members of the cast. This particular play is a farce on the Alice in Wonderland theme. Most of the characters are according to the book., but of course, there are many twists and turns, especially comedic turns in the show. The show is meant for family audiences.

Performances will be February 28 through March 9 at the Upper Lake Middle School Theater at 725 Old Lucerne Rd, Upper Lake, CA 95485.

For more information call (707) 278-9628 or visit LCTC.us

November 6, 2019