by Steve Arnold

   This month’s production of The Prince and the Pauper features in the titles roles two members of one of our most supportive families. Sixth grade twins Josh and Kyle Brewer are in their sixth ACT I production, and this month we take a look back at the contributions to ACT I their family has made. Josh and Kyle, along with their parents Steve and Christine, have lived in Vinton for several years. The boys turned twelve on May 3; and the night they were born, their father was at the North Pole!  They first became interested in ACT I after seeing our production of Bridge to Terabithia and appeared for the first time sharing the role of Ollie Herdman in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.  Later they appeared as dancers in The Sound of Music, and next shared the role of Percy in The Miracle Worker.   For their next production they appeared onstage together, playing several roles in How to Eat Like a Child. Last year, Kyle played the title role in Oliver! in which Josh also appeared.  Josh is currently playing the role of Prince Edward in The Prince and the Pauper and Kyle appears as Tom Canty.   In addition to drama, the boys’ other interests include Civil War re-enacting, Tae kwon do, which they will test for their black belts in August, Boy Scouts, music, reading, Legos, and sports.

Josh and Kyle Brewer perform "How to
Beg For a Dog" from our August, 1996
production of How to Eat Like a Child.
Kordereau Sellers appears as the dog.

    The boys’ parents, Steve and Christine, are both military veterans.  Steve, now an Operations Instructor at the Duane Arnold Nuclear Power Plant in nearby Palo, is originally from Georgia. He served four years in the Marine Corps as an aviation electronics tech. He spent eight years in the Navy as a Machinist Mate/Engineering Laboratory Tech, achieving the rank of E-6. He served on fast attack submarines Trepang and Billfish. He has finished his twenty years through the Naval Reserves and holds the rank of Chief Petty Officer. Steve is very well traveled and just happened to be on assignment at the North Pole while Chris was busy birthing the twins!  During that time he was allowed only limited communication with the outside world -- only 40 words a month with Chris!   Thank goodness for sisters and family support!  While at the pole he enjoyed the company of the crews of both French and Russian submarines, and played baseball at the pole.  Steve occasionally takes technical assignments for ACT I, among them helping to create the pump with running water for the set of The Miracle Worker.
    Chris Brewer, originally from Pennsylvania, holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, which she teaches at the Recreation Center in Vinton. Chris served in the US Navy for six years where she was a Petty Officer 1st Class, and a Nuclear Machinist Mate, specializing in Radiation and Contamination Control and Environmental Sampling. She spent most of her time on a Rad Con barge stationed at Groton, CT, servicing submarines. She later worked as a chemistry/environmental technician at Perry Nuclear Power plant in Ohio. Chris has put in many volunteer hours for ACT I, and has served as parent coordinator for two different productions.
    The Brewers also count in their family a golden retriever named Meshach, a black lab named Cocoa, and two guinea pigs named Sassafras and Bunny. They are currently renovating their spacious 100 year old Queen Anne home near downtown Vinton.  Other family interests include building their own log home and traveling as much as possible. Chris and the boys are planning a trip to Korea next year to visit with friends and see as much of the country as possible.
    The Brewers feel that ACT I has been instrumental in bringing out and developing the twins talents in theater. The joy acting has brought to their children has been a wonderful surprise.   They think the Palace Theatre will be one of the best things that has ever happened to Vinton. Steve always said one of his dreams would be to run the movies in a small town theater when he retires from nuclear work. Chris will be happy to have a great place to put on plays without having to drive out of town!
    We thank the Brewer family for their work in ACT I and congratulate Josh and Kyle for a job well done in our current production!

Update:

Josh and Kyle have continued their interest in theatre into middle school and high school productions.  Sports and music activities also occupy a great deal of their time.  The boys returned to ACT I for Romeo and Juliet, in which they were cast in separate gangs, and Josh's portrayal of a Montague the worse for wear after a fight was startlingly realistic, proving that even small parts in a big cast get noticed if they are well played. 

As for the age old problem they have lived with their whole lives (having to answer the question "which one are you?") Kyle has come up with a unique solution.  Without fail, he always wears something orange.  (Or is that Josh?)

The Brewers have also ditched the Queen Ann house in town and have moved to the country.

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