Charles Julius, the long-time set designer, tech director and stage manager for Evansville Civic Theater, passed away Tuesday.
Those who knew him said he would be remembered as a teacher, mentor and friend − and occasional therapist − to a legion of young and some not-so-young community theater aficionados.
Julius’ love of theater was instilled when, following an adolescent collision with law enforcement, he was sentenced to community service. He accomplished that as a stage hand at a local community theater where he was raised, in Enid, Oklahoma.
He never looked back.
During his tenure at Civic (1990 to 1993 and then again from 1999 until his retirement in 2020), Julius designed and built stage sets for more than more 130 productions.
“He was an artist. A magician," said Paul Boenigk, a veteran Civic Theater actor. "He understood the script and the actors and the space (he had) to create another world. He got the actors’ perspective … he listened to us … to what we needed … and then he made us made us look good.
“It was not uncommon for an audience to applaud when the lights came up on his set as a show opened to the audience,” Boenigk said.
Ironically, Julius suffered from stage fright. Director Lynn Kincaid recalled a production in which three men were positioned to yell at their onstage wives from behind the curtains. He asked Julius to play one of the husbands. Three lines. Julius reluctantly agreed but at the last minute, another more seasoned actor stepped in.
Julius would tell people that after working for decades in theater, he finally landed an acting role “but then I got replaced before opening night.”
Julius was born in Okeene, Oklahoma and spent his childhood in Enid. He earned a bachelor’s degree in theater from Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts in Chickasha and a master’s degree in technical theater from Emporia State University in Kansas.
Early on, Julius worked as tech director for several years at Theatre Tulsa in Oklahoma, where he built, lit and did sound for many dramatic productions as well as major musicals. He also designed sets and tech-directed for other area theatre companies including the American Indian Theatre Company and the Claremore Community Theatre.
He also worked as a set designer at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith for a brief time.
He moved to Evansville in 1990 to join his wife, Vicki, and family. He joined Civic Theater in the fall of that year.
“We needed someone,” said Civic Theater Director Dick Engbers, “and I hired him on the spot.”
A “Theatre Wake” will be held in Julius' honor July 10 from 4-10 p.m. at Germania Maennerchor, 916 N. Fulton Ave. Friends and patrons of Civic Theatre are welcome to attend.
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