Theater: All of the world's a stage

When you hear the word theater, your mind usually goes to the movie theater. You think about which movie to see and wonder if you want popcorn or not. Sometimes, you think about how crowded the place might be and who you might see there. But, do you ever think about going to a theater to see a play or a musical?

For many people, a theater is about the movies but for members of local civic theaters, it's about the art and the craft that goes into a production. It's about the words coming to life.

"[It's about] those moments when you're up on stage with the actors, figuring things out, and it's just all *working*. Love that." Miranda Prince states. Prince no longer is involved with theater but she was a long time volunteer at ACT.

"I do theater for a number of reasons" Cheryl Nye, a local volunteer at Albany Civic Theater. "The family connections and friendships, the creativity of it and to give back to the community."

Cheryl, like many other members of ACT, feels as if she is a part of something bigger, something that helps bring art to our community.

Encouraging people to get involved is the easy part, the part that is difficult is extending your hand and love to the people that decide they want to become part of the theater.

"I love the comradery" said June Buechting, who was a part of Flinn's Dinner Theater. 

The idea of finding friends that become like family is something that theater brings. It's not just about the art but about the bond that each person shares. Like ACT, Flinn's was a great way to give back to the community. LBCC also has a theater that many people have been able to find a release of creativity in.

Getting involved with theater doesn't just mean getting on stage, in fact, there is so much more that happens than just acting. As you head into a theater, you see people dressed all in black or the box office person selling tickets, you see ushers seating people.

There are many ways to get involved. Just head down to ACT or LBCC's theater and ask how to volunteer because you never know, it may be something that you will enjoy.

At a Glance:

     Other theaters in our area:

Corvallis Community Theater in Corvallis, Oregon

Majestic Theater in Corvallis, Oregon

Pentacle Theater in Salem, Oregon

A teacher of music

He walks with authority, through the halls of LBCC, to a classroom upstairs in South Santiam Hall. He has a purpose and yet whenever a student yells out his name and says hi, he smiles and responds back.

James Reddan is LBCC's choir teacher and has been for the last three years. He is a man that shows compassion and expects for each of his students to give all that they have. He is a man that knows and loves music, inside and out.

"He's never afraid to tell us how it is but he does it in a way that we still know he cares." explains Kayla Nissen, a student of Reddans. She enjoys his classes as well is his teaching style and the fact that he loves what he does. 

"He has such an enormous passion for his work and his students." says Nissen.

Reddan is like most educators, he believes that what he does is extremely important but that he himself isn't extraordinary. He is humble and is still a student himself, taking classes to receive his doctorate in Music. 

He has been teaching music for nine years; three years at middle school, three years at high school, and this is his third year at LBCC. His passion for the arts is part of what brought him to LBCC.

"The first time I ever taught music was actually for a music store where I grew up." explains Reddan, "I was 16 years old."

Like most music educators, Reddan has loved music for all of his life. It is his passion and the fact that he can share it with people is what he enjoys the most. He doesn't feel he is unique in any way except for his energy. 

"He is always moving and always full of energy," says Cameron Graham, one of Reddan's students. Graham was in LBCC's production of "Blood Brothers" this last fall. "He is an inspiration, even if he doesn't think of himself that way."

Reddan may seem to be just another teacher but when you sit in on one of his classes or you hear his students talk about him, you get a sense of admiration and you know right away how great of an asset he is to this school. His passion for encouraging each student to succeed is amazing.

At a glance:

 In the past three years, Reddan has visited Germany, Italy, France, and Australia, as well as travel to Canada on a regular basis.

Attended University of Oregon for graduate school.

James Reddan
Faculty of Music & Director of Choral Activities
Linn-Benton Community College
6500 Pacific Boulevard, SW
Albany, OR 97321
(541) 917-4550 (office)
(541) 917-4474 (fax)
james.reddan@linnbenton.edu

                                                     Courtesy of Cameron Graham
                                                     Mr. Reddan in New York City, for a Choir trip