by Marcy Horst

Who ya gonna call?  Nope, not Ghostbusters.  472-2511.  That’s the Greg and Diane Walston family on 4^th Street.  Now, Diane may try to reign Greg in, show him the already jam packed calendar, and remind him, you’ve got to learn to say NO every once in a while, but Greg just can’t help himself.  He’s just gotta help!

Charlotte’s Web – I don’t know, I’ve never done anything like that before.  What the heck, I’ll give it a try; I’m just an old farmer at heart anyway.

Emperor’s New Clothes – How many lines?  I’ll wear what?

Forum – Togas?  Cool!

Kiss Me, Kate – Oh, sure, sounds like fun!

Monster Medley Spooktacular – Alright, sure, I’ll fit it in.

Cemetery Walk – Write my own script?  I might need some help, but I’ll do it.

Photo by Mary Horst

Greg Walston as Senex in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

That’s just a small sample of the generosity and community spirit embodied in the larger than life, exuberant, likable Greg Walston.  And, while we haven’t gotten her on stage, YET, Diane is Greg’s perfect match.  Make cookies, make phone calls, police kids, House Manager… Diane can be counted on for much more than her fair share of the effort.

Both Greg and Diane work outside the home.  Greg works for Non-Profit Services, helping schools and other organizations raise money, and Diane is the Director of Religious Education at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Vinton.  They are both extremely active within the church structure.  Diane inevitably takes on many more duties than are part of the DRE’s job description and is an active member of the Rosary Society.  Greg is a member of the Preschool Board, the RE Board, the Parish Council, the St. Mary’s Choir and Unplugged ensemble, and the Knights of Columbus.

This active, contributing lifestyle was bound to rub off on the Walston offspring.  Sara, 8^th grade, and Matt, 3^rd grade, are both ACT I veterans.  Sara has appeared in Charlotte’s Web, The Red Shoes, and Ogre Here, Ogre There.  She’s also a server at church and an active Youth Group participant.  Sarah is a dancer, in choir at school and church and involved in many other school activities including band, musicals and plays, and cross country.  Matt joined us for the first time last summer as a Human Bean in Once Upon a Vine.  He has recently been rehearsing to take part in Monster Medley Spooktacular and proving himself to be a chip off the old Walston block.  Greg and Diane have one older daughter, Amanda, a freshman at UNI.

The Walstons are great people to count among your closest friends; in that ACT I is truly blessed. How can you become a friend of the Walstons?  Just say hello. 

As for ACT I, we know who to call!  There’s a Studio clean up day on the horizon and we need all the willing and able hands we can muster.  Walstons, if you’re not busy…..

In our recent production of Kiss Me, Kate, Greg (right) played a gangster who arrived by car in full view of the audience with Cody Robison (left) during the first ever use of a motor vehicle during an ACT I performance. Julie Zimmer

Home
Grease Paint Online    Current Season    Scrapbook
Palace Theatre Virtual Tour    ACT I STAGE!   Gems
E-Box Office    Auditions and Calendar   All About Us    Links