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🎭 Back on Stage, and Grateful for the Theater Family That Makes It Possible

Written by

Chad Hembree

For the last several years, most people have seen me behind the scenes. That is usually where I am at The Spotlight Playhouse. I am directing, planning, solving problems, unlocking doors, answering questions, moving set pieces, checking ticket links, or trying to figure out why something that worked perfectly yesterday has chosen today to stop working.

That is theater.

But recently, I had the chance to step back onto the stage in Annie: The Musical, playing Oliver Warbucks with two very different and very special casts. This was the full musical production of Annie, separate from the upcoming Annie KIDS production featuring Spotlight Acting School students ages 4 to 11.

It was a joy. It was also a delightful challenge. I worked with kids. I worked with a dog. I worked with two casts that each brought their own energy, timing, humor, and heart to the story. Anyone who has done live theater knows that adding children and animals to the stage means you had better stay awake, stay flexible, and be ready for anything. Honestly, that is part of what made it so much fun.

👁️ A Different View From the Stage

I am used to watching our performers from the audience or from the back of the room. I am used to helping other people find their confidence. This time, I was right there with them. That gave me a fresh reminder of something I already knew, but needed to feel again.

Theater is not just about the finished show. It is about the people standing beside you. It is about the trust that gets built in rehearsal. It is about listening, adjusting, laughing, missing a cue, fixing it, and going right on. It is about belonging to something.

I also had a very funny thing happen during this run. For two weeks, hundreds of people came up to me and said some version of, “I didn’t know you could sing.” Now, I have sung all over the world. I have had awards, training, and plenty of life experience tied to music. But that was not what many people knew about me.

They knew me as the director. Or the guy who runs Spotlight. Or Mr. Chad. Or the person making announcements before the show. Or the person answering messages about tickets. They did not necessarily know that part of me. And that is a good reminder.

👥 People Only Know What They See

Who we are in our own head is not always what the world sees. The things we have done, the talents we carry, and the stories we know about ourselves may be completely unknown to the people around us. That is not always because anyone overlooked us. Sometimes life just moves that way.

We do one job for long enough, and people forget there are other parts of us. We spend time helping other people shine, and folks may not realize we have a light of our own. That happens in theater. It happens at work. It happens in families, churches, schools, businesses, and communities. People only know what they know. So sometimes we have to give them a chance to know more.

🛠️ Use What You Have

One of the things I love most about community theater is that it gives people a place to use what they have. Not everyone wants to be center stage. Not everyone wants to sing a solo. Not everyone wants to wear a costume or memorize lines. That is perfectly fine. Theater needs all kinds of people.

Our theater family relies on a wide ecosystem of skills:

  • Performers: We need actors, singers, and dancers to tell the story directly.
  • Craftspeople: We need carpenters, painters, and builders to bring worlds to life.
  • Backstage & Operations: We need parents who can help backstage, alongside folks who can sew, organize, lift, carry, clean, sell tickets, greet guests, run light boards, move props, and make coffee.
  • Problem Solvers: We need people who can look at a half-built set and structural challenges and say, “I think I can fix that.”

We need people who do not yet know what they can do, but are willing to try. That may be my favorite kind of theater person.

🤝 A Welcoming Place to Start

If you have a talent you have not used in a while, I hope you find a place to use it. If you do not know what your talent is yet, I hope you find a place to discover it. And if you do not have that place, I will proudly recommend our theater family.

The Spotlight Playhouse and Spotlight Acting School are filled with people who started by just showing up. Some came because their child auditioned. Some came because a friend invited them. Some came because they loved theater years ago and missed it. Some came because they were lonely, curious, nervous, or just looking for something good to do.

Then they found people. That is the real secret. Theater looks like lights, costumes, music, sets, and applause. But underneath all of that, it is people choosing to build something together.

I cannot promise that every rehearsal will be easy—it will not be. I cannot promise that every show week will be calm—absolutely not. I cannot promise that everything will go exactly as planned—that would be a lie, and the theater gods would punish me immediately.

But I can say this: If you show up with a willing heart, there is probably a place for you. If you bring a skill, we can use it. If you bring curiosity, we can help you find where you fit. If you bring kindness and patience, you are already ahead of the game. Community theater works because people decide their time and talent are worth sharing. That is true whether they are on stage for the big song or quietly making sure a child gets to the right entrance at the right time. Both matter. Both are part of the show.

🌟 Come Be Part of It

Getting back on stage in Annie reminded me why I fell in love with this work in the first place. It reminded me what it feels like to stand with a cast, trust the moment, and tell a story together. It reminded me that people sometimes need to see a different side of us. And it reminded me that our community is full of talent that may still be waiting for a place to be seen.

So here is the invitation: Come join us. Act. Sing. Build. Paint. Volunteer. Help backstage. Bring your kids. Bring your parents. Bring a friend. Try something new. Use something old. Let people see a part of you they may not know yet.

For young performers, Spotlight Acting School has opportunities throughout the year, including summer programs like Creative Arts Camp and Film Acting Camp. For adults, The Bluegrass Players and The Spotlight Playhouse continue to offer community theater opportunities on stage and behind the scenes. You do not have to know exactly where you fit before you walk through the door. You just have to be willing to start. You may be surprised by what you find. And we will be glad to have you.

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About the Author

Dr. Chad Hembree is the Executive Director of Spotlight Acting School, The Spotlight Playhouse, and Spotlight Performing Arts. Affectionately known to the community as “Mr. Chad,” he is a playwright, director, and performer with a professional background spanning music, theater, and technology. As a contributor and editor for BereaOnline.com, he focuses on highlighting community news, local events, and the vibrant performing arts landscape in Madison County.

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