Ken Dalena likens actors to 'athletes in the arena'

By Bill Helm Editor

LYNDEN — It’s fair to say that theater has always been an important part of Ken Dalena’s life. However, once he finished with college and started working, Dalena didn’t return to the stage until retirement.

Now in his 70s, Dalena has a varied list of credits. He’s played a vampire hunter, the brother of an accused murderer, a priest, detective, homeless man, even the King of France.

Currently, Dalena is directing his first play: ‘You Can’t Take It With You,’ at The Claire Theater in Lynden.

“Our team scores points when we amuse and delight the audience. That is our game,” said Dalena, who likened himself more as a coach than director. “The actors are the athletes in the arena. My job is to give them a game plan, hone their skills and develop their talent. Your applause is our score board.”

Sue Dodson, who is playing Penny Sycamore in this production, said Dalena is a “very hard-working part of the theatre, and truly loves the stage and those involved in it.”

“He has spent a lot of time studying what the professional theaters do in an effort to elevate the local theater productions and participants,” Dodson said. “His methods tend to show his military background, but the love of the craft is what has driven him into the director’s chair. He truly wants ‘You Can’t Take it With You’ to be an amazing show, and so do we all.”

At 19, Dalena quit college and joined the U.S. Marine Corps. A Viet Nam combat veteran with a Purple Heart, Dalena said because his goal in the service was to save lives, he developed “a forceful management style that has both served me well and created some resentment.”

“At one point I had a tiff with the cast (of ‘You Can’t Take it With You’), and they let me know I was being too harsh,” he said. “Things are better now, as while I am an old dog, I am learning new tricks. I am

With several plays under his belt, as well as performances in television and movies, Ken Dalena is currently directing Lynden Performing Arts Guild’s latest production, You Can’t Take It With You, at The Claire Theater in Lynden. (Bill Helm/Lynden Tribune)

Since his retirement in 2007, Ken Dalena has pursued his lifelong love of theater by acting in plays, television and movies. (Photos courtesy Ken Dalena)