©2006 The Chestnut Hill Local

Dedication of these Hill volunteers is no act
by PAULA M. RILEY

Members of the cast and crew backstage at Stagecrafters, Chestnut Hill’s all-volunteer community theater in its 77th consecutive season, are (from left) Denise Kravitz, Pierlisa Chiodo-Steo, Stephen Dumbroski, Breanne Appleton, MaryMcNeill Zell, Bill Bansbach, Harry B. McKinney III, Jane Toczek and David Flagg. (Photo by Paula M. Riley)

This is the ninth in an ongoing series of articles by Paula M. Riley on Chestnut Hill volunteers.

It’s backstage on show night at Stagecrafters, Chestnut Hill’s non-profit, all-volunteer community theater. In the cramped room, some of the community’s most creative volunteers are preparing for the evening’s performance. Whether starring in Laughter on the 23rd Floor or managing the set for this Neil Simon play based in the 1950s, their message is the same: they love volunteering with Stagecrafters.

In full makeup and a conservative suit from the ’50s, Jared Johnston is ready for his first role at Stagecrafters where he plays Lucas, a young writer in Laughter on the 23rd Floor. He loves the environment of Stagecrafters, a place he considers unlike any other community theater. For Johnston, the audience members and subscribers make such a difference. “Here (at Stagecrafters) the ‘regulars’ will stick around to greet you after the show. That doesn’t happen at other places. Here, it feels like they really appreciate the theater and our performance,” he says.

When Susan Rosenberg Flagg was doing costumes for another community theater 15 years ago, she was invited to join the Stagecrafters crew and has been there ever since. Her contribution to Stagecrafters has predominantly been in the areas of makeup and costumes. It is exciting for her to capture the look of the different time periods and places that the shows represent. She brings years of experience and for Laughter is serving as assistant to the director, Marilyn Yoblick, who Flagg considers “an actor’s director.”

This is the perfect description for Yoblick, a seasoned actor with years of professional theater, community theater, and film experience. Prior to becoming an equity actor, Yoblick starred in countless shows at Stagecrafters during the past 15 years. Like many volunteers at Stagecrafters, she has been able to act, direct, produce and work backstage. Though she misses acting on the stage, she loves to direct and considers herself a collaborative director who always listens to actors’ suggestions and recommendations.

“As a director, I provide a safe place for actors to fall. They can share their ideas, try a scene out many different ways and be as creative as they want. I only ask that they be collaborative with me and remember that as the director I must make the final decisions,” she explains.

Yoblick’s next turn in the director’s chair will be directing A Shayna Maidel (A Beautiful Girl in Yiddish). This evocative play about two Polish sisters separated at childhood and reunited in 1946 New York City is one of six shows slated for the 2006-2007 season. Directing this is just one of the exciting challenges Yoblick will face next season when she assumes the role as president of Stagecrafters.

As president of the board of directors, she will work with eight others who oversee all the operations of the theater. Supported by numerous committees, active Stagecrafters’ members handle every aspect of the theater including production, real estate maintenance, public relations, subscriptions, children’s programming and administration.

You do not have to be a member to volunteer at Stagecrafters. The theater welcomes volunteers in every position — acting, costumes, set design, publicity, ticketing, etc. The approximately 60 active Stagecrafters’ members are those volunteers who have made a greater commitment to the theater.

Active members are required to work on a specific number of shows each year and attend three member meetings each year. This gives the members voting rights and the opportunity to serve in leadership roles. Members take this responsibility seriously and hold each other accountable to fulfill their duties.

These duties vary in scope and required skill sets. One member committee is the Play Selection Committee. Anyone (member or not) can bring a play for the committee to read. This team of experienced actors, directors and crew read many plays and always create an interesting, balanced season that includes an eclectic mix of shows.

This careful play selection is what attracts actors, crew and audiences to Stagecrafters. The theater is not afraid to take on edgy shows or choose those that tackle tough issues like last season’s Coyote on a Fence, addressing the issues of capital punishment and racism.

“At Stagecrafters, I am so fortunate to do roles by some of the greatest playwrights,” actor Pierlisa Chiodo-Steo explains. “I will be forever grateful to the amazing people I worked with on this stage.” At Stagecrafters, you never know who will be on that stage. Unlike some other community theaters, the casts of Stagecrafters’ shows are constantly changing.

Actors from all over the area with a range of experience come to Stagecrafters. Jared Johnston and Breanne Appleton recently appeared together at the Celebration Theater in Lansdowne. They both auditioned for Laughter, with Johnston landing a leading role. What attracted them to Stagecrafters was the quality theater production. Appleton, who did not make the cast, stayed on to work with costumes. “This is as close to professional theater as you will get in community theater,” she says.

Stagecrafters’ ability to function like a professional theater is the result of performances that begin with good casting. Johnston explains that unlike other community theaters, Stagecrafters does not save parts for their members. They embrace new actors and crew members who are talented and willing to work (for free). “Here,” Johnston says, “it’s not who you know; it’s what you can do.”

Stephen Dumbroski agrees with Johnston. Before the Laughter rehearsing began, Dumbroski sent an e-mail to the theater expressing an interest in working with the crew. “They are great to me,” he says. “They take my ideas and respect my input. I ran lights my first show here.” Using a computerized lighting system and state-of-the-art sound system in the 184-seat auditorium, it is just as exciting to work crew as it is to perform on stage.

The committed and talented crew makes all the difference for the actors who at Stagecrafters are able to focus on acting; unlike other community theaters who require volunteer actors to help with set construction, costumes or program design. “Stagecrafters is a very structured theater with clear lines of responsibility,” says Laughter stage manager Chris Sarnowski. “This increases the quality of the performance because everyone is focused on perfecting their own craft.”

This expertise includes a mixture of professionals and former professionals whose performances rival Center City stages. These actors and crew are committed to delivering high quality theater, and whether it’s their first year with Stagecrafters or their 21st, they will tell you what a wonderful family environment is alive at Stagecrafters. Yoblick, like many others, considers this her “home away from home.”

The back room is colored with volunteers of all different ages, backgrounds and skill sets who thrive in the theater. “This is the greatest business in the world,” says Bill Bansbach, a 10-year veteran of Stagecrafters. “All you do is laugh and enjoy yourself.” Everyone affiliated with Stagecrafters is joined together by this passion. Chiodo-Steo says, “The goal we all want to achieve is great theater at a great price that is as close to professional as possible.”

For more information about volunteering at Stagecrafters, call 215-247-8881 or visit www.thestagecrafters.org. You can also attend the pre-season Open House at the theater, 8130 Germantown Avenue, where there will be open auditions and theater tours on Wednesday, August 23, from 7 – 9:30 p.m. Laughter on the 23rd Floor continues through this weekend.