Shauna Fletcher: Notes from Backstage

Theater has been a love of mine since I first hit the stage at Wa-Hi in 2001. As I went on to college at the University of Idaho in 2005, I tried to ignore this crazed love in order to focus on a teaching degree.

But after a semester of wandering around cam- pus with no script in my hands, the gnawing in my gut steered me over to the theater arts building. There, I struck a compromise with myself: get the teaching cer- tificate, and minor in drama. It was one of the best deci- sions I have ever made.

As we approach the summer months, I am delighted to find myself in the midst of rehearsals for another summer musical; the Walla Walla Community College Foundation's production of "The Music Man." Although this will be my fourth time performing at the Ft. Walla Walla Amphitheater, I am ecstatic to spend the summer playing the sassy librarian, Marian Paroo, with many friends, both new and old.

Even though most audi- ence members will only get to see the finished product of the show, anyone who has ever been involved in theater will tell you, "There is a whole other show taking place behind the curtain."

A lot of magic happens once a show is cast. People gather around pianos and plunk out their parts. The choreographer patiently counts out rhythms over and over again. The producer starts racing posters around town, the cast members frantically memorize their lines and the director carefully shapes each important detail into one amazingly good time.

Let me assure you that the show you're not seeing at the moment is just as amazing as the one that will open in July.

There is a huge network of cast and crew - over a hundred people - working together to make everything look seamless. And it's been my experience that these people will become very close. I mean that literally and figuratively; they might make lifelong friends, and they will more than likely exchange sweat as the tem- perature continues to climb. Sometimes, people even fall in love. In fact, my first kiss ever, awkward as it was, happened on stage when I was sixteen. And three years ago, I met my fiancé while pretending to be a real couple in a murder mystery.

I can already tell that "The Music Man" is going to make this summer fabulous. During my latest nights of rehearsal, I got to sing around the piano with the gentlemen who play the barbershop quartet. Their harmony is already stellar. I also got to hang out with the two young stars of the show for a couple of hours, while we staged a funny little scene about a piano lesson. I was blown away by their talent.

I can't wait to see what the next few weeks bring!

[Editor's Note: Besides starring in "The Music Man" this summer, Shauna Fletcher teaches high school in Touchet and has been writing for The Times for the past month. She plans to marry in the fall and move to the Prescott area.]