By Gage Peterson OMAHA, Neb.- Every summer and fall, the spotlight shines bright at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, not just on the stage, but on the local adults who make the shows come alive.
For the cast of Popcorn Productions, the melodramas at Mahoney are more than just weekend entertainment. For many, it’s a creative outlet, a place to express themselves beyond their day-to-day jobs.
By day, the cast and crew work in classrooms, restaurants, and offices. But on the weekends, they transform into heroes, villains, and comedic side characters, performing in front of families who come ready to cheer, boo, and even throw popcorn.
“It gives me more of a fulfilling energy than what my real job does,” said actor Ian Cullin, who performs in this season’s melodramas. “In high school I found out this was my passion. I don’t consider my day job to be a passion of mine.”
For Cullin, the stage provides a sense of joy and purpose that’s hard to find in his day job as a movie theater manager.
Fellow performer Phillip Crawford agrees, saying that the freedom of performing compared to job serving breakfast makes it all worthwhile.
“I have a lot more freedom on stage, which is a little strange because I do have a script,” Crawford said. “I can try new things out, do different things I didn’t do before.”
It takes more than just actors to put on a show. The melodramas also need a light and sound operator. That’s where Calvin Schlautman comes in. Schlautman is a middle school speech and drama teacher, but when he’s not teaching, he likes to be behind the scenes.
“As a teacher, I guess the attention is always on you, the kids always are looking at you,” Schlautman said, “and then when I’m in the booth, no one’s looking at me. I’m kind of just hiding out. I get to still do everything that I need to do and make the show run, but the tension is not on me. The stress isn’t on me, and it’s really nice.”
That spirit of fun and improvisation is what keeps the shows lively and what keeps the audience coming back. Audience participation is a hallmark of Mahoney’s melodramas, where viewers are encouraged to throw popcorn at the villain, toss money to the performers, and interact with the cast throughout the performance.
Rachel Robbins, producer and director of Popcorn Productions, said the connection between the show and the community is what makes Mahoney’s melodramas so special.
“This place in particular is really special,” Robbins said. “I came here as a kid. A lot of our other cast members also came as kids, and this is where we fell in love with the theater. We hope that by making it family friendly and encouraging audience participation, we’re instilling an appreciation for the arts, and especially a love for theater.”
The melodramas will continue every Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m., through Oct. 19th at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park.
Leave feedback about this