This is not a sports entry. It is about something important to me, and HeelsBlog is my forum.
On the morning of Saturday, February 19th, the Paramount Theater in downtown Goldsboro caught fire. The 123–year-old building was the only real arts center in Goldsboro and the hub of downtown. Local restaurants would give horse carriage rides to the theater after dinner. There were plans for a Wayne County ‘walk of fame’ to go in front of the theater.
Growing up, I was involved with a youth theatre group called StageStruck. The company performs a premiere show each spring with performers aged 6–18. I performed in 5 productions with StageStruck. During the first three years of the company, the productions were held at the Wayne Community College Auditorium. In the early 1990s, the Paramount was renovated, and Stagestruck moved its productions there. The Paramount held almost 500 people, whereas Wayne Community holds about 350 (I think). On the Paramount stage, I performed in Bye Bye Birdie, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Guys and Dolls with StageStruck. I also starred in Eastern Wayne High School Drama Club productions of Grease and Jackie Lantern’s Halloween Revenge. I didn’t say they were all great productions.
During my last-ever show, as a senior in high school, I decided to steal the show. Literally. When a windowed room set piece came down for an indoor scene, I (as Lt. Brannigan) chased gangster Glen Smith on ‘the street’ and could be seen through the windows. I inserted myself at a table at ‘The Hot Box.’ Just for fun. One of the producers chided me backstage, but I had my fun.
I remember having to run down a list of gangsters I ran into in one scene. Since they weren’t referred to by name in other scenes, I made their names up. One of the gangsters that night was ‘Jersey Mike.’
If you’ve ever been involved in community theatre, or if you’ve ever seen Waiting for Guffman, you know that local theatre can takes itself too seriously. In fact, youth theatre often becomes a contest between Starstruck Moms vicariously living through their children.
But youth theatre gives children and teenagers a taste of drama, comedy, and live performance. A lot of the Stagestruck alumni I know went on to pursue dramatic arts or music. I probably would not have majored in Communications with a concentration in Performance were it not for the Paramount Theatre.
All in all, rehearsals and performances, I probably spent six months of my life in that building.
One day, Goldsboro will have its encore performance.
The stage is gone, but the memories live on.
