Summer Plays Brought to You by the Town of Lewisville

BY MEGHAN CORBETT

This area has no shortage of immense talent. This is particularly true when it comes to stage production. With so much going on through the School of the Arts, various well-known dance studios and remarkable symphony performances, it seems there is always something going on for quality, wholesome entertainment in the area. During the summer months, area residents and visitors can enjoy the beautiful, warm weather at Shallowford Square during its outdoor summer productions.

Melissa Peller has been the producer for summer plays in Shallowford Square for the past five years, and her talent and expertise has grown these events immeasurably. “I have always loved theater, especially musical theater,” said Peller. “I grew up enthralled with productions such as ‘Cinderella,’ which played on TV every year, or movies like ‘The Sound of Music’ and ‘Camelot.’ I sang in choirs, played guitar and wrote songs growing up. I began acting and singing in productions at my Temple while raising four sons. I joined a community theater and began acting and singing after my sons also got involved in theater. For many years, it was a family affair being a part of productions. The longer I worked with the theater groups, the more I realized that I loved production and had a talent for coordinating production and stage management. This became a passion, and I have worked with several of the area community theaters. I also increased my production experience working for a few independent films. Though I have a degree from North Carolina State University in social work (1974), I returned to Salem College and studied arts management and not-forprofit management, and was awarded that degree in 2011.”

The opportunity to work for the Town of Lewisville was a dream come true for Peller. “I was thrilled to be hired by the Town of Lewisville to produce plays for their outdoor summer productions when the town decided to take over the plays through their Parks and Recreation Department,” said Peller. “Successfully bringing together directors, musicians, actors, dancers, stage designers, stage managers, stagehands and others needed to create a show is exciting and immensely fulfilling. The Town of Lewisville requested family friendly musicals for their summer productions. Each play becomes a favorite when you watch it come to life from auditions to rehearsals to performance. Each cast becomes a family. Some favorites include, ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,’ ‘The Sanders Family’ series, ‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,’ ‘Once Upon a Mattress,’ ‘Little Women,’ ‘Secret Garden,’ and this past summer, ‘Tarzan, the Musical.’”

Peller’s experience includes acting, stage management, assistant director and producer for plays with Clemmons Community Theater, Brock Theater, Stained Glass Playhouse, the Willingham Theater at the Yadkin Arts Center, Twin City Stage and West Side Civic Theater. “Community theater is a wonderful entertainment option, but more importantly, a pathway to community involvement and engaging the creative spirit,” said Peller. “There are options for so many avenues of involvement, from performance, musicians, set builders, painters, costumers, lighting and sound, stage hands and helping with tickets, seating or refreshments. Volunteer opportunities are always available. These opportunities are not age specific and can involve children through adults. One of the wonderful experiences of community theater is the mix of ages, socio-economic groups and cultures that come together and truly form family connections throughout a production. Many of these relationships form lasting bonds. The Town of Lewisville’s support of summer productions for free for the community is unique. Not only are the productions of high quality, but they also offer a chance for people from all backgrounds to come together in a neighborhood setting to spend time together with friends, family and children, and meet new people. It is a wonderful way to introduce children (and adults) to theater. It doesn’t matter if a child falls asleep halfway through a performance, or you leave before it is over, or you come back each night to see the show. Many of our actors on stage get excited about theater by experiencing shows and then auditioning for local plays. Many children have grown up in community theater and continue in school for related studies or to work in entertainment fields, or just to enrich their skills in public speaking, interaction with others, confidence building and a host of life-lesson building. It is a true gift from the Town of Lewisville to the community.”

Daryl Shaw Photography