by Marcy Horst

This month we salute a family that counts among ACT I's most generous benefactors, the family that provides ACT I with it's "home away from home," Jon and Julie Clingman of Clingman Pharmacy.

The familial trio of Jon, Julie, and Emma Clingman are faithful ACT I patrons, on and off the stage! 

Emma, now a 3^rd grader, began attending shows with her parents when she was a toddler.  She has become a summer regular, performing in three ACT I STAGE! productions, including Charlotte’s Web, The Red Shoes, and The Truly Remarkable Puss-in-Boots.  Emma also enjoys dancing at Cooling Dance Center, and her dad set foot onstage for perhaps the first time last spring for a father daughter number in which the pair participated with several other father daughter combinations (with several other familiar ACT I faces!)  Julie so far has remained off stage but has lent her energies to helping on the prop crew for Life with Mother.

Summer director, Marcy Horst, says, “Emma is a quick study and a vocal leader.  She is conscientious and takes an interest in the whole show, not just her part.”

Emma plays a lion at the Parent Open House during Summer Theatre Camp Orientation and Workshop Week.

Jon and Julie, who own and operate Clingman Pharmacy, focus their generosity toward ACT I in many ways.  Not only do they share their daughter with us, but they regularly loan many valuable antiques to our community theatre, donate the apartment space above their store for our rehearsal and storage use, and annually underwrite one of our productions, gracing our programs as a Diamond Gem sponsor.  The Palace billboard currently hails Clingman Pharmacy as sponsor for Kiss Me, Kate, which runs through Sunday the 15^th.  Clingman Pharmacy has also been sponsor for My Fair Lady and last season's Events Series.

It comes as no surprise that Jon, Julie, and Emma are such ardent ACT I supporters; the Clingman family is nothing if not community minded.  Jon is a leading and active member of Vinton Unlimited.  He was a strong proponent of the recent Downtown Renovation, and was instrumental in bringing the crew of artists to Vinton last Fall to paint the historic murals that highlight our city’s architecture.  Julie is a member of the Benton County Historical Society and participated last year in the 1^st Annual Cemetery Walk, portraying Virginia Chadbourne, the woman who built the lovely home on the east end of 5^th Avenue that Jon and Julie have painstakingly restored.  The home reflects the family's love for antiques as well as Julie's passion and great skill at needlework.  All three Clingmans are active members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

Originally from Galena, Illinois, Jon and Julie came to Vinton in the fall of 1988.  At the time, the space above the Pharmacy was occupied by the Knights of Columbus (in the space that is now our rehearsal hall); a law office, and there was also one residential apartment (now our costume shop.)  Soon after the family settled here, the various tenants vacated the space, which remained unused except for storage until the space was offered to ACT I late in 2000.  Thanks to their generosity, ACT I really has a permanent home where the business of producing plays can be handled comfortably when we aren't performing at the Palace.

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