All talent deserves our applause

I noticed in college (and high school too) that football gets real attention and then basketball, and to a lesser extent baseball.

And don’t get me wrong, I am not opposed to them! I just wish other activities on the high school and college level were taken as seriously and appreciated as much. And then there is the professional level. Is this game or the next really that important?

Well, two weeks ago I had an amazing experience and I wanted to tell you about it. My sister-in-love (my husband’s sister) who has been a rock to me since he recently passed away, did a wonderful thing for me. She took me to see The Lion King at the Ohio Theater. I have seen many professional shows but this one blew my hair back! (You can have your Phantom of the Opera any day compared to this show.)

The actors, singers, dancers, lights, costumes, staging were all fabulous!

Why am I bringing this up and why did I start with sports? When I was in college, and more recently when I taught at what is now Ohio Christian University, I was aware of how much money was thrown at sports, invested in sports, paid to participants of sports but hardly any in comparison to talents in other endeavors.

I coached a traveling drama team that visited churches to do chancel dramas. We introduced potential students to CBC (as OCU was known then). When the sports teams traveled the players had a $25 a day food allowance. The drama students paid their own way.

But in theater endeavors there is so much more talent used than just the ability to carry a ball down a field and cross the line. Let me explain.

The other evening while I was watching The Lion King I was reminded of how many different gifts were being utilized on the stage and behind the scenes. Of course the obvious is the actors. But many of the actors were also talented vocalists and dancers. And there were acrobats and puppeteers.

Then moving from there I was amazed at the costumes that helped you picture the people as animals and suspend your reality long enough to believe that that puppet was Pumba or Simba or whomever.

The herds of animals were on moving carts where the animals appeared to be jumping through the savannah. And the lionesses were hunting and I seemed to be the only one who saw them... they ate a gazelle!

Someone came up with the concept of the puppets and someone made the puppets and taught the actors to make the puppets seem real. I have made and worked puppets and it is not as easy as it seems.

And behind the scenes…WOW. People with real theater chops worked together to create wonderful sets that moved from one scene to another with hardly a break. Carpenters and roustabouts and tech and lighting engineers all worked together to create magic that we hardly think about while watching such a performance. And did I mention the musicians? So beautiful!

Please do not get me wrong, I am not denigrating football (or any sports) players. I am however celebrating the community that it takes to put on say Fiddler on the Roof at the high school level. Several years ago we were honored to see this lovely show at Circleville High School.

What an amazing performance showcasing so much different talent! Many of you know that for years I was part of the RoundTown Players. I know what went into bringing White Christmas, Meet Me in St. Louis and numerous dramas and comedies to the stage. A community of varied and talented people working together to make magic!

Sure, sports get the most accolades (and money), but theater and art pull together so many in the creative fields and they should be celebrated too. So, here’s to you all, you other talented and creative people. Applause! Applause!