For Love and Money

Getting a live community theatre show onto the stage is a lot of work. From the initial concept, obtaining the rights from the playwright, booking a theatre, auditioning talent, staging the show, directing, rehearsing, promoting and selling the tickets to the big opening night, working on stage in front of a discriminating audience and giving it all you’ve got, all without getting paid for your efforts. So why do Joe Szekeres, Barb Frigault and Paul Dobbs do it? They do it because they love it and because they help to raise the much-needed funds for local charities.

Passionate about performing and helping others, they recently launched the new community theatre group called Page to Stage Durham. And, they love everything about it!

“We’re like kids in a clubhouse,” explains Frigault. “We worked together in (a production called) ‘Departures and Arrivals’ and that led to the first ‘Love Letters’ performance for United Way. “We get together for coffee and talk about shows and say ‘oooh, it would be so cool to do this one.’ We get so excited.”

Page to Stage Durham recently performed ‘Melville Boys’ for four nights at the Whitby Centennial Building, home of Whitby Courthouse Theatre with proceeds going to United Way. “We raised $1,747 for United Way and we are all really pleased!” stresses Szekeres. United Way approached the group asking for their assistance with a fundraiser. “They were very good to us. They helped to get things going and helped to secure the theatre.”

Each member of the group utilizes their own skill set to make their productions entertaining and successful. Recently they promoted their latest theatrical performance with a promotional video put together by Paul Dobbs. “It’s a new way to reach out to people in the community. There was so much work put into the setup and creation of YouTube video.”

All three are dedicated to doing what it takes to excite a crowd and raise much needed funds for groups who really need them. “Once we come up with a charity, then we decide on a show,” explains Szekeres. From their many combined years of producing, directing and performing in various community theatre productions the three partners can usually come up with lots of ideas for plays to put on stage.

“I’ve been involved for over 25 years performing in and directing shows. I meet new people, it’s the element of performance,” says Szekeres. “Community theatre is very social. People involved in community theatre usually give assistance to other groups within the area and get to know each other.”

“The biggest challenge we have is that we don’t have an actual theatre that we can call home,” says Szekeres. “As in other businesses, money is always an issue. These are still difficult times financially for many people.”

“For me, it’s something that I love,” says Frigault. “I love any acting that I do. I have an agent in Toronto and have done four films, commercial, print ads, runway, voiceover, but community theatre so different than film and tv.” Frigault explains that in television and film, you get a number of chances to do re-takes or dub in the audio. With a live audience you only get one chance, so it has to be good. “In live theatre, you’re out there,” she says.

“I love performing,” says Frigault. “As a kid, my girlfriend and I used to make up shows...it’s something I always wanted to do. One day I finally got up the nerve to audition and haven’t stopped since.”

“It’s rewarding personally. We have helped a charity crucial to us. We’ve done what we can to help,” stresses Szekeres.
Page to Stage Durham is always looking for people who want to get involved in producing and performing in shows. They are also open to new charities to work with. Visit www.pagetostagedurham.com for more information.