Superfan's Pentacle Theatre Debut!

We FANS have FANtasies. I dream of performing as a rock star, acting on stage, or hitting a homerun in the World Series. As a child, I read the book Paper Lion by George Plimpton. The author detailed his experiences going through NFL training camp, and actually playing a series as quarterback in a preseason game. This book fueled my SUPERFAN spirit and stimulated many fantasies. George Plimpton became a well known journalist and did participatory journalism—competing in professional sporting events, acting in a Western, performing a comedy act at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, and playing with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

I grew up in small town Wisconsin with no acting experience, no singing experience (I had been told I was tone-deaf), and no dancing experience (religious upbringing), and no participation in competitive sports. My older brother was the accomplished athlete and I was his SUPERFAN. My first experience with live theater was at age 13, when on my own, I got tickets for my dad and me to see “Annie Get Your Gun”. Up until that time, I had not had access to any fiction, theater, dancing, or other secular entertainment. This play was based on a true story. I did research (World Book Encyclopedia) on the true-life stories of Annie Oakley and Buffalo Bill, and I was ready to be SUPERFAN—passionately watching, no actually experiencing, this story as it magically came to life on stage. On that night my career as SUPERFAN blossomed. I longed to experience more of this magical, and new to me, live theater-world.

Around the time of Y2K, I became SUPERFAN EXTRAORDINAIRE of Pentacle Theatre, Salem Oregon. In 1997 when I moved to Salem, It was “Love-At-First-Play!” Then it was “Love-At-First-Kiss” when I met actress Kelli Swanson. Our First-Kiss of the New Millennium was forever, and Kelli Swanson Jaecks and SUPERFAN Ron Jaecks are known as “The Lovies!” I am SUPERFAN Extraordinaire when my Lovie, Kelli Jaecks, is performing. Each night of her runs in Seussical, Legally Blonde, Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Chicago, I chose a different character to inspire my SUPERFAN outfit for that night. I delved into the characters, and learned about “backstories” and I became even more engrossed in the magic. I did not go into the green room/dressing room because I believe that this is the “sacred area” where the actor undergoes metamorphosis into character.

Before I explain what “participatory journalism” means for SUPERFAN, it is important to understand that he Lovies are under the spell of Pentacle Theatre Director, Robert Salberg. We are both Robert Salberg SUPERFANS! When Robert found out that I retired from a exhausting surgery practice, he wanted to pop my Pentacle Theatre stage cherry and direct me in my Pentacle Theatre debut on stage. I auditioned for him and his team (all objects of my SUPERFANDOM!) and I was cast! At the read-through, I knew that SUPERFAN was in way over his head! It was too much totally new stuff for me to learn in too short of time (remember, I have never danced and have never sung harmony) especially considering I am recovering from the sudden retirement due to burnout. I told the production team, I was going to withdraw and consider auditioning again next year. Director, Robert Salberg cast his spell, and I was back on the cast of MAMMA MIA!

SUPERFAN is blown away! The TALENT is awesome. This is a professional level group—EVERYONE on the production team, the cast, the crew, the tech, sound, rehearsal accompanist, vocal directors, choreographers, props—EVERYONE! And, they are all nice to me AND helpful to me a frightened debut actor! I am still over the moon impressed by their excellence; and this project is helping me overcome my fears. This participatory journalism story is the first BLOG entry as SUPERFAN enters the “sacred area” and then onstage for the very first time.

#MammaMia #Theatre #PentacleTheatre