The theater in my town has been incredible. The sweep of stories that have come to life on the stage of the Mitchell Performing Arts Center have been a rich portrayal of what it means to be alive. I tried to remember a slew of the one hundred productions. It began with The King and I, which included a gaggle of children, enormous skirts, and a life sized elephant. Then there was The Wizard of Oz, in which monkeys and the hot air balloon flew, Mary Poppins and the chorus of Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe with its battle for freedom. 

 

Shrek, A Christmas Carol in a medley of variations, Little Women, Willy Wonka, Godspell, The Fiddler on the Roof, and Peter Pan all pulled big audiences into their seats. The Sound of Music had an elaborate set, and two full casts of Von Trapp children. The Little Mermaid brought us under the sea, and Annie took us to NYC. Tom Sawyer made us cry, and Seussical made us laugh. Honk! brought us to the farm, and Charlie Brown left us feeling nostalgic. 

 

Each show included dozens of students and adults, who built the staircases, and sewed the costumes, overcame their fears to use the catwalk and learned how to point a spotlight. 
 

Naomi Haus Roth is the queen of MPAC, and sadly her reign is over. There will be an event the first Saturday in September to honor her and the legacy she created. Naomi made it possible for people to discover their capacity to sing, and dance, to learn lines and change costumes in twelve seconds. She mentored students with drills and paint, with light boards and wireless mics.  

What I really wish, is that we could take her to NYC, or into Narnia, or up in a balloon. But what I think will happen, as a room full of people shower her with love, is that she will laugh.