The show must go on for local theater group
It’s in our genetics to perform. It’s just a matter of finding the right venue. Two Chesterfield residents, Heather Miles and Kristin Koontz, each found love for the theater arts at a young age. It continued to be the right venue for them as adults, but they found the resources limited around their home base. While working together on a few productions they formed an instant friendship. They met for coffee one day in 2014 and shared their dreams of starting a theater for all people in the area. Broken Leg Theater was formed by a group of friends with a common love of theater arts.
The community theater, which does not charge for those who seek to be involved had its first production, “Piper,” in 2015. Performing in auditoriums at middle schools throughout the county, the theater group has done two to three productions each year since. In its last full season, 2018-19, over 185 adults and children produced three shows with a combined audience of over 700. The 2019-20 season ended early, but as often said, the show must go on. Broken Leg Theater invites the public to its annual “Talent Show” of 15 acts this year on the Village Green to be held Friday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. . Admission is free but donations will be accepted for the nonprofit theater group.
Broken Leg Theater has been holding a summer talent show every since its first in 2015. “This year will be a little different in that we’re holding it in October and it will be outdoors,” Miles said. “We are so fortunate to have Megan Livingston directing this event. She is our Director of Educational Outreach as well as an incredibly talented, seasoned local actor. Megan has assembled a list of awesome acts who will be performing acts from movie musicals. Acts could be anything [including]singing, playing instruments, or dancing – so long as the song was featured in a movie musical. I am so excited to see what our BLT folks have put together.”
In addition, a table will be set up for anyone wanting to purchase BLT shirts and other merchandise, and another table will offer pre-packaged concessions. Both will be contactless, and all of their workers will be gloved and masked at all times.
When arriving at the event, the audience will see that many precautions are being taken to keep everyone safe. Plans to have the seating area marked in six-foot intervals, asks everyone to wear masks, and will use microphone covers. Also asks attendees to bring blankets and chairs for seating.
Koontz, co-founder and president of the theater’s board, said one of the challenges is getting the word out about the theater group. “I believe there are so many more kids, families, and individuals that would love to be involved in theater but don’t know that affordable options are available,” she said. “Being Richmond’s No.1 Local Theater in Style Weekly three years running certainly has gotten the word out more, but reaching the underserved and underprivileged communities is a goal we are working towards,” she said.
Koontz said it has been a long journey. She was involved in theater programs at Hopkins Elementary, Falling Creek Middle and Meadowbrook High School. “I wanted to participate in some of the local theater companies at the time but the cost was too high,” she said. “I went to Elon College as a music theater major. I discovered a second passion there, police work, and graduated as a Human Services Major with minors in Theater and Criminal Justice. While my career for the next 17 years was in several aspects of law enforcement, I continued to participate in local theater.”
It was when her oldest daughter received the lead role in her kindergarten play that a new theater journey began. “We participated in theater at Fort Lee, but the commute was too hard on an elementary student and with a baby as well. We tried a few shows here in Chesterfield but never found our ‘home,’” she said.
Forming a theater group has always been a passion project for Koontz. “I wanted it to especially be a place for the kids [who want]to participate in quality theater programs but [are]perhaps unable due to finances or other obstacles,” she said. “I also wanted to provide quality educational experiences at low cost and eventually scholarship opportunities for those wanting to gain more knowledge and skills. I have been amazed at how BLT has grown over the years.”
Koontz co-wrote the first play with another founding board member to avoid paying fees for a show. “I love that we still have families and individuals [who]participated in our fundraising show and our first play and are still involved in our productions to date,” she said.
Koontz five children have been involved with the theater group, as well as extended family members. She said her husband refuses to get on stage but volunteers in many other ways, and her oldest daughter desires to study directing and sound design in college.
“They enjoy the time on stage but have all said they enjoy meeting new friends and seeing their old friends by doing the shows even more than the acting,” she said. “One of my favorite memories was being on stage during ‘Music Man’ singing with my father to my left and my oldest daughter on my right, performing together. To date, my mother, father, and all five of my children have been in our shows. My husband has no desire to ever set foot on stage but has helped greatly with our volunteer opportunities. Seeing multiple generations of families working together on productions is one of the most heart warming aspects of BLT for me.”
“BLT has been a dream come true for me,” Miles said. “For years I hoped to someday return to the theater, a hobby I loved so much as a teenager [while attending Thomas Dale High School]. It took me meeting a group of like-minded people and finding inspiration in the children I was meeting in community theater to make me realize there was a place for my vision, our collective vision in the Chesterfield area.”
Miles, who serves as an artistic director, has also performed on stage. “Not only do I have a wonderful creative outlet with BLT; I have an opportunity to inspire children through theater, and I have become part of a large, supportive, hard-working, loving theater family,” she said.
The theater family has been on a hiatus due to the lockdown but hopes to return to full production soon. “ We were mid-rehearsal for our production of The Addams Family when Covid-19 required us to ‘push pause,’” Miles said. “That cast-crew-staff is in limbo waiting for the opportunity to return to the stage. Ultimately, the safety and well-being of our families is paramount, and we will patiently wait until it is safe for everyone to return to [the]usual routine.”
Miles said the shows have been selected for the 2020-21 season. The Addams Family Musical, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Aladdin, Jr. They hope to be able to put on all three but efforts still depend on the lockdown from COVID. “We almost exclusively use Chesterfield County schools, libraries, and churches as our rehearsal space, and at this time we are unable to meet in those locations. We hope to resume productions soon, but we have to be patient while waiting for that to happen,” she said.
Board member and Chester resident Les Harper serves as director of art and design. “It’s been a learning curve full of new experiences, from designing all the posters and managing the visual brand of BLT to designing and building sets and even directing shows,” he said. “I’ve been met with new and exciting challenges that have helped me grow as a person and an artist. It’s been wonderful to watch this little theater grow each season and to know that I’m a part of it. It’s also been incredibly fulfilling to see the effect it has had on people and families in our community.”
Chester’s Perkinson Center for Arts and Education is preparing to open, and maybe someday we will see Broken Leg Theater in the 350-seat auditorium.
“We heard about the performing arts center years ago and, like most theater lovers, were very excited about this opportunity for our Chester community,” Miles said. “What a wonderful gift it will be to the people of Chester and the surrounding areas. I hope that the presence of the Performing Arts Center opens doors for people in our community who love the theater but aren’t able to experience Broadway or even productions in RVA.”
Harper said, “I am hoping the new performing arts center will become a thriving home for community theater and the arts in Chester and the areas around it. I’d love to see classes offered through the center, and access to the arts for some of our lesser served communities. I’m hopeful we will be enjoying the arts center for many years to come.”
Koontz said it is hard for them to believe how much the group has grown in six years. Broken Leg would like to set up scholarship funding and develop technical classes for school-age kids. “There is still so much more room to grow. First and foremost I want us to remain true to our mission and vision of providing quality, affordable entertainment and educational experiences to everyone in our community,” she said. “I want to continue seeing families involved in our shows – on stage and off stage. At BLT, we have seen the passion that many of our kids have for [technical]areas, but they have been able to find classes for their age; most classes are at the college level. With kids running most of these areas in BLT productions, we know there is a need for these educational experiences in our community.”
“Our executive board works so hard to maintain our vision and mission and continue to grow,” Koontz said. “Our participants and their families work so hard on- and off-stage. We have had people aged 4 months old to 86 on our stage, and every last one of them has given [his or her]all. We couldn’t exist without participants’ families and community volunteers. BLT has had become a family of individuals who share a love of theater. And, of course, we would not be able to continue without our loyal patrons.”
Miles said, “So much of BLT is a group effort.” Giving credit, the group is: Koontz, president and co-founder; John Cichocki, vice-president; Amy Goodman, secretary; Kristina Tocarchick,treasurer; Harper, director of art and design; Megan Livingston, director of educational outreach.
To find out more about Broken Leg Theater visit brokenlegtheater.com.
