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From its first production in 1972, “A Roaring ‘20s Scrapbook,” to this year’s “Wizard of Oz,” Brave Community Theatre in Spring Valley has filled five decades with quality community theater.
Debi Neville, the current Brave Community Theatre (BCT) board president is also the founder. She started the community theatre in 1972 when she returned to her hometown after living in Minneapolis. Having studied theater in college, she wanted to bring something she was passionate about to her community. She secured a $250 donation as seed money and her dream grew into a local legacy.
Since that time, countless productions have taken place through the years, from stage performances during town celebrations to Christmas pageants and special events.
It is estimated that 1,000 participants have taken part in BCT productions, serving in various capacities of costuming, directing, acting, set-building, concessions and all the stage crews and behind-the scenes volunteers it takes to bring a play to stage.
Over the 50 years of performances, the BCT has performed classics such as “Paint Your Wagon,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Camelot” and many others.
When she was asked to share her favorite production, Neville shared that she liked how “The Night of January 16th” was unique. The play takes place in a courtroom during a murder trial. The members of the audience are chosen to play the jury. The ending of the play depends on the verdict of the audience member. As a result, the play actually has two endings.
“Several cast members played roles that they lived in real life; the police officer was played by a local police officer, and a local judge played the judge. The third night we had a hung jury and had to perform both endings,” Neville shared.
Fast forward to 2022 and the BCT is preparing for its summer production of “The Wizard of Oz.” Novella Meisner and Char Carlson are co-directors of the production and have been working on this particular production for the last three years. Both are long-time members of the BCT and have shared directing duties in the past as well.
When Carlson was asked if she had a favorite production, she admitted it was like picking one of your children as a favorite. “Maybe it would be another play that Novella and I team directed,” Carlson said. In “Beauty and the Beast,” the late Monsignor Francis Galles played Belle’s father, Maurice. “He was a lot of fun to work with.”
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One of the best aspects of community theater, in Carlson’s opinion, is getting to know your neighbors and friends in a whole new way.
Since working with BCT since the early 1980s, she said she has become part of a new kind of family, centered around the community theater.
“It’s a family,” she reiterated. “All the people involved, not only in this show, but other shows as well, become a part of this special group. We not only get to know new people, but get to know people in a new way.”
Carlson mentioned this year’s production features a new actor who has just moved into Spring Vally with her family. “This is her first production with BCT and we are pretty sure she will continue on,” she said.
The tradition created within the theater family carries over into individual families as well. “We are seeing multiple generations of families involved in our productions,” Carlson said.
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The BCT legacy is special, she said. “To be in existence for 50 years – and to be self-supporting during that time – is pretty amazing. The community and the area does support live theater.”
As the co-directors prepare for this year’s “The Wizard of Oz” production, Carlson noted she is seeing great progress since holding auditions the first part of the year and since beginning rehearsals in mid-June.
“It’s been a challenge,” she said. “It’s a big cast, plus we have the Munchkins. There are always more things to think about when you have the kids involved, but they are doing absolutely fantastic.”
The Munchkin cast members range in age from six to nine and are not only coached in acting, but are also treated to lessons on other aspects of the theater as well.
“They have been helping us make lollipops in the props department and have been picking out their own costumes as well,” Carlson explained. “We get the final say and approval and may give them some ideas, but they take it and make it their own.”
As for the other actors, Carlson was very complimentary in regards to their talents. “Many of the actors playing the main characters are pretty seasoned,” she said. “They have done a lot of work with BCT and can really get into their characters.”
“Rehearsals are going very well,” Carlson added. “The Munchkins were there last Friday for the whole show so they can see it come together. It was fun to watch them watching it. The cast has done an excellent job with learning lines, so it is going well.”
As for the crew, Carlson also praised them for the abilities to be creative with sets, costumes and other aspects on a limited budget.
Carlson promises that “The Wizard of Oz” will be a wonderful production for the whole family to enjoy. The concessions offered will also tie into the play in one way, shape or form, she said.
“Novella and I try to make it an immersive experience,” she explained. “Even the people working the concessions will be wearing bright-colored clothing as they are an extension of Munchkin Land. They will be offering lollipops, of course, and more colorful candies. And there will be traditional favorites, such as popcorn, as well.”
The play, “The Wizard of Oz,” by L. Frank Baum, adapted by Frank Gabrielson, follows the book pretty closely, Carlson said, so people may notice a few difference from the MGM movie starring Judy Garland. “There are no flying monkeys,” she said with a laugh.
This year’s production will take place during Spring Valley’s Ag Days, August 17-20. Performances will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at the Spring Valley Community Center. Doors open at 6 p.m.
The BCT family would also like to invite theater alumni and friends to an open house following the Ag Days parade until 4 p.m. to visit, reminisce and view its collection of 50 years of performance pictures.
Tickets are now available at Sunshine Foods in Spring Valley, as well as from the BCT website. Adult tickets are $18, senior/student tickets are $15 and tickets for children under eight are $5. A $1.00 discount is available for pre-show sales at Sunshine Foods and at the door with an Ag Days button.
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