Community theatre: a family affair

For right at 20 months, the Community Theatre of East Texas has called Hughes Springs home. In that 20 months, the theatre has produced four major productions, and had countless numbers come through their doors as actors, crew, and audience members.

Those who have taken part in previous productions use a special word to refer to the theatre: family. When one spends 12 weeks with a group of people, they have a tendency to form a bond very kin to that of a family. The company’s current production is no different. After spending many long hours together, the cast and crew of A Christmas Carol can feed off of and react to one another as if they have known each other for years.

A Christmas Carol has a familial feel for other reasons, as well. Although many productions sported multiple members of a family in or associated with the production, Carol is different. There are six families that boast the majority of the cast and crew. Of the 64 parts in this version of the Charles Dickens’ classic, many of the actors came from one of six families. Two of the founding members of the Community Theatre of East Texas, Mandy Gammill and Matthew Nichols, are cousins. Gammill serves this production as director, while Nichols plays the role of Jacob Marley and assists with set and scene changes. Two of Gammill’s sons also are active in the production, with Jaxon playing the youngest Ebenezer, while his older brother, Ryan, plays the 20 year old Ebenezer, along with several other parts.

That family tie is just the tip of the iceberg for this production. The Vance family, from Avinger, sports five members of their family in this production. Rachelle, Brittany, and Michael Vance have each performed with CTET in previous productions, with Rachelle and Brittany making their debut in Right to Remain. Michael joined the group in its previous production, Way out West, In a Dress. The Vance patriach, Russ, and youngest daughter Meagan, joined the acting family for this production. (The Vance’s other son, Zachary, also has been a part of a CTET production.) Not only has the majority of the Vance family become a part of the CTET family, but two other characters in A Christmas Carol have ties to them, as well. Rachelle’s niece and nephew are cast in the show.

Another family that has become a full-fledged acting family is the Walkers, from Daingerfield. Daniel Walker plays the Ghost of Christmas Present, while his daughters play Want and Ignorance, two personifications of the nature of the human race shown to Scrooge in the play. Walker’s son, Jonah, also plays a role in Carol. The Heard family, from Omaha, who are in a karate family with the Walkers, are also involved with A Christmas Carol. Jessica Heard plays several roles in the production, as do her son and daughter.

There are others who have multiple members of their family associated with A Christmas Carol. Jayme Brown and his daughter travel from Longview to participate in the production. Vic Morris, who plays Scrooge, joins his wife Christy in the Carol cast, as well.

Since it's inception, CTET has prided themselves on offering familyfriendly productions that everyone can enjoy. Now, the theatre can say they are a family theatre, as well. As Nichols likes to remind everyone after each showing of A Christmas Carol, “This is your theatre. We need your help, and invite you to come help in anyway: acting, set-building, or working on the crew. Whatever you are comfortable with.”

No matter your age, if you have an interest in the theatre, come out and see those at CTET. Enjoy a production of A Christmas Carol, then find your place in this family of thespians.