Somewhere between, “Wherefore, art thou, Romeo” and “I’ll have what she’s having”, lies community theatre, a singular experience of my lifetime that has forever changed my perspective on entertainment and my respect for those willing to put themselves out there.
While living in Indiana for six years, I found an outlet for my creative talents as well as a wonderful group of friends – the Actors Community Theatre, or ACT as it was commonly called. Although this group was on average twenty years younger than Gary and me, we bonded over our shared fondness of theatre and murder mystery dinner parties.
While traveling around the country, both in 2019 and now on this trip, we have discovered most state parks have tiny Amphitheaters tucked hidden in the woods. They are primarily used for Park Rangers to present a short video on a wide variety of compelling topics, like the conservation of resources like water or toilet paper, explaining the difference between tick bites and deer droppings, and the ever popular “Don’t be an idiot and start a fire on a windy, hot day”. Some amphitheaters present full plays, like the one on Roanoke Island.
None, however, compare to the Lincoln State Park Amphitheater in Spencer, Indiana. This beauty seats over 1,500 folks eager to watch plays on the life and times of Lincoln, musical acts and tribute bands. The stage is surrounded by the woods Lincoln himself once called home.
I had the pleasure to work backstage as a Stage Manager for several summers. Aside from the hard work and amazing experiences, I can attest to one thing… there is magic in those woods, there is community on that stage, and there is truth from the performers.
If you ever find yourself in the woods and come across a tiny wooden structure that resembles a small theatre, stop for a while and have a seat on one of those wooden benches. And listen to the silence of the woods. They all have stories to tell, if we only stop to listen.
How interesting that the woods have their secret theaters. You see so many cool attractions.