PORT AUSTIN PLAYHOUSE
by Melissa Farrell

Losing a whimsical bet with members of the Lexington Community Theatre, Pigeon resident Dennis Sturtz was suckered into his first role in community theatre in Lexington, and has been hooked ever since.

Sturtz, Garfield Inn manager and executive chef, has been an active member of the Port Austin Community Players and director of several plays at the Port Austin Community Playhouse since 1999, when he moved to the area.

Theatre is an escape from the stresses of every day life and a way to express creativity on a different level than cooking; being an actor in a play is reality on a whole different plateau, Sturtz commented.

It is an escape from every day life.

"I can still be Dennis, but as the character I am portraying."

Being on stage as an actor is a good high, he commented.

"When I am in a play and the cast does well, everyone feels good."

However, directing is a different kind of high.

"As a director I feel a great sense of accomplishment when I see characters in the play unfold before my eyes, and watch the audience react to different parts of the play the way I intended," Sturtz said.

He has directed several plays for the Port Austin Community Players including "The Foreigner," "Lion in Winter," "Cash on Delivery," "Arsenic and Old Lace" and "When we were Married." He also co-directed "Mame" and "Miracle on 34th Street" with John Jacobis.

There is a lot to consider when directing a play. First of all, the director acts as a visionary by reading an author's work and interpreting the piece, keeping in mind the author's intentions. Most directors also have the opportunity and responsibility of selecting their cast through the audition process. It is important for a director to have confidence in the decisions he or she makes.

"As a director you select the cast, and hope the people you pick for your characters will portray the character in the play the way you intend," Sturtz said.

People of all ages and from all walks of life, participate in plays and musicals presented by the Port Austin Community Players. The mesh of people coming together at different levels makes the unfolding of a good show spectacular to witness as a director.

"I am awe-struck with the degree of talent in the Thumb," Sturtz said.

Musicals are especially popular. "We have some amazing voices in the Thumb," he commented.

Opportunity knocks for both mature actors and novice interest seekers alike.

"We are always looking for new blood," Sturtz said.

It is the director's job to recognize the potential beginning actors and actresses may have and help them develop their skills. The community theatre group is like a family rather than separated by social groups.

"We all look out for each other; it is important for the cast to gel," he said.

Preparing for a play takes a lot of dedication and hard work. On average the cast rehearses for a play six to eight weeks.

"I like to meet with my cast at least three times a week," Sturtz declared.

During rehearsal, Sturtz prompts the actors and actresses to remain in character the duration of their time in the theatre. If a character speaks with a German accent, then he or she is expected to speak with that German accent the whole rehearsal, even when the actor/actress is not on stage.

While rehearsing for a play is hard work, comic relief is very important. And Sturtz definitely has a comical side. And so do certain cast members, not to mention the time someone tinkered with his flask before a performance and filled it with whiskey instead of Mountain Dew.

There is a task for anyone who would like to get involved in Port Austin Community Theatre. There are many behind the scene roles that are vital to a production including set and prop building, makeup, lights, set moving and fund raising to mention just a few of the crucial tasks.

Rich in history, the Port Austin Community Players has been in existence since the summer of 1974. Joyce Stanek, Port Austin Community Playhouse secretary said the group began when a few people interested in starting a theatre group put an ad in the newspaper. The first play never got off the ground, however, theatrical sentiment was in the air. Several Neil Simon comedies were performed at the Port Austin Civic Center in 1974 and "Fiddler on the Roof" was performed in the Port Austin gymnasium later that year.

The Port Austin Movie Theatre - currently the Port Austin Community Playhouse - was purchased by the Port Austin Community Players in 1975.

"It was great to have our own building," Stanek said. It was easier than trying to rent a place to perform the play in, which eventually was impossible due to large attendance.

However, even the movie theater proved to be tight quarters.

"Sometimes we borrowed a bus to house the actors when they were not on stage during a performance, and stored props in barns," she said.

But in 1987, after the "Great Event" took place, the first big fundraiser, building projects began. The first phase in which the size of the building doubled occurred in 1990, and the auditorium and bathrooms were renovated in 1997.

Come out and support The Port Austin Community Theatre, flavored with the best talent throughout the Thumb. The Port Austin Players are excited for the theatrical menu slated for this year. Opening the 2006 theatrical entertainment is "Night Watch." "Night Watch" is a murder mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Just as soon as you think you have solved the mystery, you may find yourself terribly mistaken.