11/15/07
By Dawn Haas Rhude
Education Through Theatre
Approaching the 100th anniversary of the Rhoads Opera House fire
that occurred on January 13, 1908, Boyertown continues to find ways to pay
its respects. The Boyertown Historical Society has planned various community
events to remember the lives lost in the fire and to honor the small town
that survived. As this is done, more and more community members are being
educated about their town’s history. Theatrical productions can also serve
as educational means. In January 2007, Town Archive, Incorporated, a non
profit organization whose mission is to educate communities about their
history, presented the play Does Love Die?. With much of the dialogue
cultivated from newspaper articles of the time, this play revealed
circumstances surrounding events that occurred before, during and after the
fire. Community icons came to life to tell their stories. After 99 years,
written words became stories told. In the months to follow, our education
continued with remembrance walks, museum displays, research projects and
memorial services.
In
December, we will again look to the world of theatre to take us back to the
time of the fire. Another play has been developed about the tragedy. Blue
Skies Productions presents Unclaimed Carriages, a musical written,
produced, and directed by Boyertown school teacher Kathy Galtere. The story
follows the excitement and enthusiasm of the people involved in “The
Scottish Reformation”, the actual production that was being presented in The
Rhoads Opera House when the fire occurred. The audience learns about people
who were innocently leading their lives, not knowing what the night of
January 13, 1908 held for them. Galtere was motivated several years ago upon
hearing stories about hauntings in the Rhoads building. Because of her
theatrical background, she began to imagine the stories behind people who
were simply trying to put on a production, a topic she can closely relate
to. Serving as a tribute to lives lost and a stricken community, the story
leads us through events before and after the fire, and contains the reality
of the tragedy. But the plot also reveals a side of this historical event
that many of us wouldn’t ordinarily bring to mind. Little did these small
town folks know, that their love for the theatre would live on today
through theatre.
Citizens have, yet again, another opportunity to be audience members and
learn of their history through theatre. A community theater production
company takes the opportunity to write and present original work. Local
actors get the opportunity to perform. We all gather at the theatre. We all
are gratified. Live theatre thrives in Boyertown.
Blue
Skies Productions presents Unclaimed Carriages by Kathy Galtere
Saturday, December 15, 2007 8:00pm,
Sunday, December 16 2:00pm and 7:00pm
Boyertown Junior High West, 2nd & Madison Streets, Boyertown
Call
for tickets 610-705-4378 Adults $8, Seniors and Students $5.
About the Author: Dawn Haas-Rhude is owner and director of Miracles In Motion
Dance School, Founder and director of The Boyertown Community Ballet
Company, Interim Director of Limelight Productions and has more than 30
years of experience in dance and performing arts.
Watch WZAR Live
