Sadly, the article is no longer available online, so a snapshot and transcription of the article will have to do. I had stashed away a physical copy of the newspaper for reasons that will become obvious. The article is also an interesting behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to put on a small-town production.
A family in plays together... St. James production of "South Pacific" relies on family participation
by Brian Ojanpa
Free Press Staff Writer
ST. JAMES--When Michael Wojtalewicz rehearses his key role for St. James Community Theater's production of "South Pacific," the kinship with his co-actor is genuine.
"I can tell him to shut up, or boss him around," the high school senior says, "because he's just my dad."
That would be Barry Wojtalewicz, a 23-year veteran of the community's theater and a guy with a goal: to someday say he's acted in plays with each of his three children.
Actually, family ties will be the norm when the musical opens July 18 for a three-day run. About a dozen local families are involved in the 40-person cast and production staff. In fact, the Wojtalewiczs don't even have a monopoly on the father-son bit. Another pair, Matt Minich and dad Mike also are in the production.
Family involvement may be one of the requisites for maintaining a community theater in a town that, at first glance, seems too small for such endeavors.
Yet community theater has thrived nearly 30 years in the Watonwan County community of 5,000 residents. Barry Wojtalewicz credits ongoing gumption--"the talents of certain people who have pushed to keep it alive."
That pushing is accompanied by the ongoing challenges of sharing theater facilities with the high school and working with small budgets.
Funding comes from annual donation drives, benefit concerts and prudent pursuit of arts grants. The St. James Theater and Arts Association, which also oversees a thriving children's theater program, works with a budget of $14,000 a year. Of that, $9,000 will be used to stage "South Pacific" and a children's play.
Association President Linda Becken says musicals such as "South Pacific" cost up to $5,000 to produce, with a substantial portion of that going to pay song royalties. Those fees are $1,250, compared to the $300-$400 copyright costs to stage a drama.
"South Pacific," adapted by Rodgers and Hammerstein from two short stories by James Michener, is a World War II tale of two love affairs, one a racially charged relationship between a soldier and a Polynesian girl, the other between a Navy nurse and a French planter.
The St. James company last staged "South Pacific" 20 years ago, which, coincidentally is the age of its director, Josh Carter of St. James. Carter has directed children's plays and a dinner theater production, but this is his first foray into musicals.
He says his concerns early on in rehearsals have vanished, to the point that he can crack wise about it.
"Were the adults going to listen to a 20-year-old? I was a little nervous about that. They say I'm pretty bossy, but they like it."
Barry Wojtalewicz, a building contractor who terms his singing voice as "untrained but strong," previously acted in a community production with his oldest child, a daughter no longer living in St. James. (Editor's note: Ahem, I have a name, Free Press!)
When he appears in "South Pacific" with son Michael, his quest of acting with all his offspring will be two-thirds completed. He wants to complete the cycle by someday acting with his youngest, Joe, who is 16.
He also wants to send the message that it's OK for young males to hit the stage as readily as they hit baseballs and opposing fullbacks.
"I'm a pretty rugged, active guy, and I want to show kids that they have options, that they don't need to just go into sports."
To that end, he may already be succeeding. The cast of "South Pacific" includes about a dozen high school boys.
The St. James Community Theater's production of "South Pacific" will be presented at 7:30pm July 18, 19, 20 at St. James High School.
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