by Steve Arnold

We begin a new feature in Grease Paint, the Member of the Month.  Each month we will focus on a member or family from ACT I, highlighting their contributions to theatre and the Benton County community.  For our first story we have chosen the Williams family of Newhall - Mike, Annette, Melanie, and Aaron - all of whom are active in ACT I.  Mike and Annette are both attorneys with undergraduate degrees in music education (Mike also holds degrees in mathematics, computer science, and piano performance), and their many talents have been valuable assets to our organization since Annette’s debut as Maria in The Sound of Music in late 1995. This summer has been incredibly busy for the young family. Mike, a patent attorney, recently began a new job with the Simmons Perrine law firm in Cedar Rapids. (He was previously employed by a firm in Texas, conducting business by fax and e-mail.) On top of that, he is serving as co-director for our opening show, Bye Bye Birdie and shortly after being elected to ACT I’s board of directors in June he was also made our new president. Annette, a clerk for Judge David R. Hansen, United States Court of Appeals in Cedar Rapids, is expecting the couple’s third child shortly after the show. In addition to The Sound of Music, Annette also appeared last year as Nancy in Oliver! in which Mike made his debut with us as music director.  Their other children, third grader Melanie and first grader Aaron, both students at Atkins Elementary, also appeared in that show.  Melanie was also a dancer in The Sound of Music.  In addition to theatre, Melanie and Aaron count dance, flute, and violin among their interests.

Mike grew up in Waverly, Iowa, where his father, Frank Williams, was head of the music department at Wartburg College there and also directed that school’s orchestra. (Frank, a flautist, joins us as a member of the band for Bye Bye Birdie.)  Mike fondly remembers his family once hosting the famous flautist, the late Jean Pierre Rampal, as a house guest.  Annette grew up in Blooming Praririe, Minnesota, where she was active in speech, music and theatre in high school.

Mike and Annette think ACT I is a great asset to the community, providing excellent opportunities for both youth and adults.  They are looking forward to the renovation of the Palace Theatre.  "It's been great fun to do a show outside," Mike adds, "but having a real home for ACT I productions will be an added luxury."

We wish the Williams family every success in Bye Bye Birdie. We are very grateful for their involvement in ACT I and we eagerly await the arrival of the newest member of their family and ACT I!

Showing a wacky side of themselves other ACT I members rarely see, Mike and Annette ham it up as participants in Murder at the Opera, a mystery dinner held at The Lion & the Lamb Bed and Breakfast in Vinton.  Also pictured is ACT I member Charlie Vogl, a regular cast member for Murder at the Opera.

Updates:

The Williams haven't been active with ACT I for a while.  They continue their busy law practices, with Mike offering piano lessons on the side.  They have also been enjoying the pleasure of home schooling.  They were back for Charlotte's Web, in which Aaron had the prestigious role of Wilbur the pig.  Melanie and Annette also appeared in that production, and Mike and Annette have danced in some of our variety shows.

Their third child, Jennifer Rose (named partially for the character of Rose in Bye Bye Birdie), was born in between the two weekends of our run of Bye Bye Birdie.

Melanie also has the honor of playing first chair flute in the Chicago Youth Symphony which takes the family away most weekends. 

For Season 2003 - 2004, Mike was music director for our production of Annie, performed in September, 2003.  Annette and Melanie also participated in that production, while Aaron and Mike's dad played in the orchestra.  Mike's dad also took a brief cameo role as a member of President Roosevelt's cabinet.

                                                                                                                    Photo by Julie Zimmer

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