October 19, 2005

OTP Hall of Fame recognizes three pivotal players in history of theater

By Carol South
Herald contributing writer

       Sifting through and laughing over memories decades old, the Old Town Playhouse inducted three veteran members into its Hall of Fame.
      Sunday afternoon's ceremony drew approximately 60 attendees for the seventh annual recognition of key Playhouse contributors. The audience roasted and honored Bob Lerew, Dave Campbell and Jim Matthews, who also regaled the audience with stories from their years spent acting, directing and advocating for the Old Town Playhouse. The 16 previous Hall of Fame inductees include John and Elnora Milliken, Phoebe Collins, and Bev and Vern Attwood.
      "It is so nice to see you three on stage together again," said June Neal, also a Hall of Fame member before introducing Lerew. "We want more and more to recognize the people who have been the backbone of the organization."
      The trio provided a core of talent, professionalism and energy during a critical phase when the former Civic Players found its permanent home in the former First Christian Church and evolved into the Old Town Playhouse. While all later left the area and pursued other professional and performing goals, they crafted a legacy in regional theater.
      Attendees at Sunday afternoon's event rejoiced at the surprise announcement that the 25-year mortgage on the building at 8th and Cass had been retired. Campbell, Lerew and Matthews, along with Vern Attwood, symbolically tore up the mortgage and showered the stage with the gleeful confetti of a dream come true.
      "These men were the driving force behind the phenomenal growth of the Civic Players as they moved into the Old Town Playhouse," said Phil Murphy, president of the Old Town Playhouse.
      From acting for his mother in the family basement at age eight, Matthews went on to a distinguished career in broadcasting that began at a small radio station in Cadillac. Now a resident of Jacksonville, Fla., Matthews was an epitome of professionalism who directed the first show at the Civic Player's new home. He also acted and directed numerous other productions, including "Gypsy," the last show the Civic Players presented at the Park Place Dome.
      During all the years of his involvement with the Civic Players and Old Town Playhouse, Matthews helped the volunteer actors and production crew master all aspects of professional theater.
      "He held workshops and taught set design and construction," said Bev Attwood.
      In the early 1970s, Matthews and Lerew became friends while working for TV9&10 in Cadillac. They co-founded the Cadillac Footlighters and, after both wound up in Traverse City to help launch TV29&8, they became involved with the Civic Players.
      While he jokes about endless meetings arguing about curb cuts, Lerew was an all-around can-do guy, noted Neal. In fact, his wanderings around Traverse City sparked the idea of using the former First Christian Church as a permanent home for the Civic Players. He convinced the city, neighborhood and organization that this facility was needed and appropriate. He also enrolled the Civic Players in taking on what was then considered 'astronomical' debt for a facility completely unready for stage productions.
      "It was a full church, with stained glass windows, a full baptismal font and pool and a choir loft," Neal recalled before illustrating Lerew's doggedness: "The baptismal font and pool was even used as a pool for a 'Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.'"
      During the 1970s, the name Dave Campbell was synonymous with musicals at the Old Town Playhouse. A director and performer for 11 years, Campbell has his first starring role in the new facility's first musical: "Guys and Dolls." Also a noted member of and "hot" banjo player in the Backroom Gang, Campbell starred in "Camelot" and "1776" and directed "Li'l Abner," "The Runner Stumbles" and "My Fair Lady."
      "Dave was a dedicated advocate of the players and the Old Town Playhouse," said Murphy. "His influence is felt throughout the Playhouse even today."
      Campbell's final role was the lead in "Kismet" in 1984. He and his wife relocated to Columbus after that but the years in Traverse City are etched in his heart.
      "There's nothing like live theater, it comes from the heart and soul of everyone who ever walked the boards," said Campbell. "It was wonderful, I thank you for the memories."
      The Hall of Fame event also recognized current contributors to the Playhouse by bestowingthe Directors' Choice Awards for the 2004-2005 season. These awards were given to outstanding volunteers who went above and beyond what was expected to make both the main stage and the studio theater productions a success.
      "These people did something very special in the minds of their directors and we thank them very much," noted Brian Dungjen, who presented the awards along with his wife, Michelle.