by Marcy Horst

With Megan Christy (pictured above) cast as one of the lead roles in Hansel and Gretel this month, the whole Christy family is getting involved!  Seventh grader Megan, Mom Jeanne, and third grade brother Jacob are all veterans of ACT I, but this is Dad Rex's first ACT I venture.  Rex operates the Vinton Chiropractic Clinic.

Megan began in ACT I as Lady Jane Gray in The Prince and the Pauper, and then she played the Fairy in The Velveteen Rabbit.  Jacob was also in The Velveteen Rabbit as a tin soldier and was in the children's choruses of The Secret Garden and Hansel and Gretel.  Megan also studies dance at the Cooling Dance Center. 

Megan, Jacob, Rex, and Jeanne are indeed proof that ACT I tends to attract whole families.  Megan has enjoyed doing children's theatre so much that she has now set her sights on a "main stage" play or musical lead role!  Jacob, on the other hand, is not so much interested in a particular role ( although he really enjoyed Archibald Craven in The Secret Garden!) as he is having an opportunity to fence on stage!  While Mom and Dad sometimes despair the long rehearsal hours, as Jacob says, "To do a play takes DETERMINATION; to set out and reach a goal.  You get a chance to do things that you can do - like ACTING!"  What parent could deny their child such an awesome learning experience!  And Rex and Jeanne realize that their own personal involvement and participation will only enhance the growth and opportunity for their children. 

Thus, despite their schedules crowded with piano lessons, sports practices, dance, and babysitting, we expect to se the Christy family on the Palace stage in many more of our ACT I productions.  If manhandling that gingerbread house on and off stage doesn't do the trick, once Jacob shows his dad those hidden hallways, Rex is bound to be hooked like the rest of the family.

Update:

Since the publication of this article over two years ago, Megan has been kept very busy with theatre and other school activities.  Her biggest achievement has been playing Juliet in Romeo and Juliet for us in February of 2002.  She has also been very active in Theatre WHS as well as vocal music, she also continues with dance.  She is also a very loyal patron of ACT I, faithfully attending our productions, usually attending multiple performances of each run.

The Christy's are also enjoying their beautiful new home; created from adding a major addition to their original house.

                                                                                Photo by Julie Zimmer

Pictured with Brandon Jolly as Romeo, Megan mastered the difficult Shakespearean language admirably to perform one of the leads in ACT I's first ever Shakespearean production.

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