Leading Ladies Add Sparkle to a Gem in Our Community
BY BOBBIE WALLINGER
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When it comes to the arts, one of Stockton’s greatest assets is Stockton Civic Theatre. An amateur production company under the leadership of artistic director Jim Coleman, business manager J. Patrick Rogers and the board of directors, the sixty-year-old institution holds the distinction of being one of the three oldest continuously running community theatres west of the Mississippi.
So what is the key to SCT’s enduring success? According to Coleman, “Our success is the direct result of our volunteers – most of whom are women.” He noted the commitment of so many women in our area comprises almost 90% of the workforce backstage, in the front of the house, on the board, as well as “on the boards.”
Four such ladies are pictured to the right. These women have collectively participated at some level in more than 150 productions, beginning with Julie Grider, who played in SCT’s first musical, The Mikado, over 55 years ago. She, along with Judy Williamson, established the singing group Top of the Line as a result of their association at the theatre. As time went by, they were joined by Melissa Esau and Kimberly Romberger, also due to the SCT connection.
All four agree working at SCT is much more than a hobby. This community theatre is a family affair, either by birth – as in the case of the Hong family, mother Putsy Hong, stage manager extraordinaire, her daughter Windi Whalen and granddaughter Jaki Whalen, all of whom have worked together behind the scenes – or in the case of Top of the Line, family by commitment.
SCT’s board president, Lorrie Docter, noted that during the recent production of “Hats,” Kimberly Romberger had to be hospitalized two days after opening weekend, leaving a gaping hole in the seven-woman ensemble. A call to Melissa Esau was all it took to ensure the “show would go on,” with Esau learning the role in two days and filling in for the next ten performances, until Romberger was able to return and finish the run.
SCT has proven over the past 60 years, “there’s no business like show business,” and our hats are off to the men, women and children that make Stockton someplace special!
So what is the key to SCT’s enduring success? According to Coleman, “Our success is the direct result of our volunteers – most of whom are women.” He noted the commitment of so many women in our area comprises almost 90% of the workforce backstage, in the front of the house, on the board, as well as “on the boards.”
Four such ladies are pictured to the right. These women have collectively participated at some level in more than 150 productions, beginning with Julie Grider, who played in SCT’s first musical, The Mikado, over 55 years ago. She, along with Judy Williamson, established the singing group Top of the Line as a result of their association at the theatre. As time went by, they were joined by Melissa Esau and Kimberly Romberger, also due to the SCT connection.
All four agree working at SCT is much more than a hobby. This community theatre is a family affair, either by birth – as in the case of the Hong family, mother Putsy Hong, stage manager extraordinaire, her daughter Windi Whalen and granddaughter Jaki Whalen, all of whom have worked together behind the scenes – or in the case of Top of the Line, family by commitment.
SCT’s board president, Lorrie Docter, noted that during the recent production of “Hats,” Kimberly Romberger had to be hospitalized two days after opening weekend, leaving a gaping hole in the seven-woman ensemble. A call to Melissa Esau was all it took to ensure the “show would go on,” with Esau learning the role in two days and filling in for the next ten performances, until Romberger was able to return and finish the run.
SCT has proven over the past 60 years, “there’s no business like show business,” and our hats are off to the men, women and children that make Stockton someplace special!