An Obsession Realized....

Contributed by Sara Catheryn Wolf

Director of Henry V

It all begins with a thought that becomes an idea.  That idea quickly becomes obsession, and then you have to find a way to realize it.  When that germ of a thought became an idea which morphed into an obsession to direct this play, I was enormously fortunate when I met with Ed Nahhat at that coffee shop in downtown Royal Oak to pitch it.

Fast forward about a half a year later, and that dream has been realized. I’m back home with Water Works Theatre, watching record crowds watch my obsession, being completely realized by talented local artists. Actors with such heart and determination, they rehearsed six out of seven days, learned the choreography to two major battle scenes, studied and worked the language- and some learned it in two languages- all since July 5. We have local designers, technicians, fight choreographers and prop masters who have fleshed out a great story and made it even greater. We have volunteers who work the shows for free- in marketing, PR, box office, hospitality, concessions, ushering- all out of love for the theater. I might also add that these designers, technicians, prop masters, interns and volunteers are working all three shows of our season (Henry V, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Summer Sonnets). Yet, of course, the most important part of Water Works is the audience. Imagine having a story to tell if there is no one there to tell it to? And what a story to tell...

Henry V  is a play for under dogs; it asks us to find our own greatness, to rise above the people we were, or how others may have viewed us.  "Harry" certainly does that- he goes through doubt, worry, loneliness, judgment and overwhelming odds. He shows us that WE are warriors for the working day, and that there is greatness in us all. In working through and rediscovering this play, the most striking thing was its honesty. Henry wears his heart on his sleeve, at least to the audience. He takes us on that journey with him, through his darkest hours to his incredible victory that surprises even him.  The story is an inspiration told by a mosaic of memorable characters.

All of this began from an obsession that was once an idea that started as a thought that was nourished by an Executive Director and a theater that believed in it.  How can I keep from singing?  I invite everyone to come and enjoy this truly wonderful production!

Please visit www.waterworkstheatre.com for more information on scheduling and tickets.

Real Stars of Shakespeare in the Park in Royal Oak

Contributed by Ed Nahhat, Founder and Executive Director of Water Works Theatre

The 13 year-old boy selling popcorn in the park this year first learned stage sword fighting in KidsAct!; after which he was cast in our production of the “Scottish Play” in 2009, showing off his on-stage dying skills every night with professional actors. The girl who starred in Royal Oak High School’s musical last fall learned her first Shakespeare in the park with Water Works in 2004. The boys and girls who got cast in Gerard Butler’s upcoming movie Machine Gun Preacher are recent KidsAct! students, all of 10 and 12 years old, working with A-List talent on their first paid acting job.

For one local actress a small part with Water Works led to bigger roles and a highly sought place in a prestigious graduate theatre program. Another actress was so good in her first Water Works show that she won awards, catapulting her to roles in major films, including one with Robert DeNiro.

We know that Water Works doesn’t make people talented. But we work hard every year to offer talented people the opportunity to grow in their craft and career. We educate and empower artists (offstage and on) of any age. We also pay all of our artists, hiring local actors, designers, directors, graphic artists, and other vendors and suppliers. We offer the only outdoor professional Shakespeare event in Michigan. And we’re really proud that we run the only public event in Royal Oak that does not cost the local taxpayer a dime.

In fact, Water Works pays the city to use the park, and we pay for everything else that goes into a professional outdoor theatre event, from microphones to insurance to port-johns. Certainly we could not make it without our generous donors, neighborhood advertisers and ticket buyers. And we need more help in that department.

But the real stars of Shakespeare in the park in Royal Oak are:

our volunteers.

It’s not easy to explain why some people volunteer their time, or how one manages to recruit such wondrous people. But when it’s real, it’s just like finding gold in the ground. Water Works saves thousands of dollars in business expenses every year relying upon the generous and professional help of volunteers, from signage to bookkeeping, from house management to social networking, from manual labor to audio supplies, from legal advice to student interns. Personally, I think that even our “paid” people are so underpaid that they end up volunteering a lot of time too.

Everyone who donates their time, their talent, their insight and creative contribution to such an effort is a special kind of local hero to me. So this year, we decided to honor six of our Ten Year volunteers with Water Works’ “Best Friends Award” (custom made by local artists Edward Marsh and Nina Barlow). The honorees are: Tony and Jan Schmitt, Lisa and Duane Kimmel, Holly and Bryan Conroy and Sam and Mary Nahhat. But we have many other volunteers who are just as valuable to us, people who have given their time and talent in past years, or are stepping up today.

I can’t name them all here, but I know their names by heart. And if you come see our show, you’ll meet them, our real stars, one by one. And they’ll be smiling.

Come see us, and join in the fun.

In the photograph: A few of our "Best Friends" - Water Works 2010 honorees Lisa and Duane Kimmel with State Representative Marie Donigan and Water Works founder Ed Nahhat.