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April 28, 2007

New Direction

Botts takes shot at leading play

By BRAD DICKERSON

Actors dipping their feet in the directing pool is nothing new, as evident by the number of Hollywood stars who take a stab at it on a regular basis. For local resident Donna Botts, who has acted for eight seasons with Coral Hill Baptist Church’s Higher Ground Drama Ministry, as well as a recent stint with the Far Off Broadway Players, she has now found herself calling the shots.

Botts is making her theatrical directing debut by overseeing a cast of 17 students from the Glasgow Christian Academy.

They are in the middle of rehearsals on “The First Church of Pete’s Garage,” a play written by Paul Musker.

“The premise is these teenagers are involved in a church and they told the pastor that they think they can do better, that they can have a church that will suit them better than the church that they are in now,” Botts said. “So, the pastor encourages them to go start their own church.”

Pete is embodied by Caleb Young, 14, who is acting in his second play following a part in last year’s GCA production of “The Secret Garden.”

Many of the cast members had worked together on that play.

“It’s got some funny parts in it,” Young said of his new theatrical venture.

Co-star Taron Defevers, 14, playing the part of Dan, Pete’s best friend, is also fond of the play’s more comedic moments.

“I have to act like I’m playing my guitar on a broom,” he said.

Terry, a logical thinker who ends up arguing with many of the play’s other characters, is played by Ben German, 14.

His character’s personality gives German a different avenue of enjoyment.

“I like arguing in this play,” he said.

Toi Dixon, 14, who is playing Jen, a character who fancies herself as the pastor instead of Pete, likes not only the play’s humorous aspects, but also its message.

“I like that it’s comedy, but it has good points to it,” she said. “There’s a good storyline.”

All the actors are under the leadership of Botts, who came into the director’s chair after being asked by GCA principal Tracy Shaw following the departure of music and drama teacher Tim Best.

“Donna has participated in several dramas at her own church and I knew she would have the talent to do it and she always works really well with our children here,” Shaw said.

“There is so much that a director has to envision and look at when, as an actress, you just concentrate on your part,” Botts said. “Yes, you work off the other actors on stage, but you kind of know, with that experience, how to handle that.

“When you’re the director, you have to look at everything. It’s huge.”

The many tasks a director has to think about when organizing a production is the placement of actors, making sure props are available and having music prepared to play in between scenes, Botts said.

With the play taking place in a garage setting, certain props that are needed include old tires, lawnmowers and other items one would associate with an automobile’s storage space.

Getting these types of items appears to be going rather well.

“People have been cleaning out their garages for me, so I’m thankful,” Botts said.

Despite the added responsibility, the rookie director is enjoying her new role as the play’s leader.

“I think the thing I enjoy about directing is working with the students,” Botts said. “[I like] watching them on stage and being able to say, ‘No, no, turn this way and make sure you’re out to the audience’ or, ‘Try to say this line this way,think of it this way.’

“It’s just neat to see them evolve and grasp the characters as well.”

Still, Botts’ passion will always lie with creating a character on stage as opposed to being the one calling the shots.

“I like it, but I honestly have to say I probably enjoy acting better than I do directing,” she said.

“The First Church of Pete’s Garage” will be at 6 p.m. May 11 and 12 at Coral Hill Baptist Church.

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