As we celebrate the ACT I family in our production of Family Affair, don't forget that our ACT I extended family includes far more individuals than those who are currently active.  This month, we honor a long time friend of ACT I who was there when this organization began and helped lay the groundwork for what ACT I has become today -- a friend who continues to be a supporter of ACT I even though he is no longer living in the area.  

During the nearly thirty years that our mentoring organization, The Old Creamery Theatre Company, was in residence at its theatre in Garrison, patrons could enjoy productions in three different performance spaces -- the main stage, the courtyard stage, and the studio theatre, known as the Brenton Stage. After the company moved permanently to Amana, they had only one performance space.  Then, a few years ago, a courtyard space was added to the Amana facility.  Now, as of just a month ago, the Creamery once again has a studio theatre.  The company has acquired a long term lease on the former Amana train depot, and the freight room of that building is now a sixty seat theatre with the depot's waiting room serving as the lobby.  The Elephant Man, the Creamery's first production on the Depot Stage, completed its run on June 23 -- a marvelous play with an excellent and imaginative staging.  And in the acting ensemble of that production was a very familiar face to long time ACT I patrons -- the Reverend Richard Paulus.

Rev. Paulus, who was pastor of the United Methodist Church in Van Horne during his sojurn with ACT I,and is now a retired pastor of the United Methodist Church, residing in West Branch.

Just as the Old Creamery Theatre was there when ACT I began, nurturing us during those early years, so was Dick Paulus.  Dick was one of the strong guiding forces during those early years.  He appeared as the eccentric Boris Kolenkhov in our very first production, You Can't Take It with You, in April of 1980 on the stage of the Old Creamery.  He next played the leading role of Sheridan Whiteside in our second production, The Man Who Came to Dinner.  Subsequently, he was the zany Sultan of Bashir in Don't Drink the Water, Major Metcalf in The Mousetrap, as well as taking on roles both large and small in Deadwood Dick, The Curious Savage, The Murder Room, A Thurber Carnival, Never Too Late, The Cat and the Canary, Morning's at Seven, until appearing with us for the last time as Orville Turnover in Daddy's Dyin', Who's Got the Will in April of 1991.  In all, Dick was involved in 19 of our first 22 productions, representing our first eleven years, until he was transferred to West Branch.  His assignments varied -- he was often on stage, but also took on such jobs as publicity, properties, and set construction.  He also has the distinction of being the first member of ACT I to direct one of our productions.  (Early ACT I shows were directed by members of the Old Creamery Theatre or by guest directors.)  Dick directed three ACT I productions, including My Three Angels, The Girls in 509, and Take a Number, Darling.

Rev. Paulus is pictured here (in the wheelchair) as Sheridan Whiteside in The Man Who Came to Dinner in 1980, ACT I's second production

Dick and wife Ellyn have 3 adult children and 3 grandchildren.  Since moving to West Branch, Dick has remained involved in theatre, working with the Iowa City Community Theatre, City Circle Acting Company of Coralville, and Senior Chamber Readers Theatre.

Director Dick Paulus is pictured in the auditorium of The Old Creamery Theatre in Garrison during our production of The Girls in 509, which he directed in 1986.

He has also performed in productions at the Hoover Library in West Branch, portraying Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Herbert Hoover.

Here, Dick Paulus plays an eccentric oil sheik in our 1983 Don't Drink the Water.

Dick remains in contact with ACT I.  He is an occasional patron and a regular reader of Grease Paint.  He says, “I am thrilled when I read about the recent ACT I productions, children’s shows and reader’s theater presentations.  The home in the Palace Theater is a tremendous asset for Vinton and Benton County .  I have been privileged to be invited to perform with the Old Creamery Theater in Amana and have had a most positive experience in their production of Elephant Man recently.  Thanks to Steve Arnold for remembering me in the ACT I newsetter!”

ACT I thanks Dick Paulus for his many contributions to ACT I's early years.  (And we thank Ellyn for letting him slip over from Van Horne for eleven years for our productions!)   We thank both Dick and Ellyn for their continued support of ACT I, and now that he's retired, maybe there's hope for a return engagement sometime!

                                                                                                                    Photo by Julie Zimmer

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