Allison Per-Lee never learned how to high kick or belt out a solo. But she’s good at teaching others how to do it. The Decatur resident channels her passion for musical theater into producing shows with teen performers at First Presbyterian Church in Midtown.
“I don’t really know why I love musicals so much,” she admits with a laugh. “I’ve never been trained to do them.”
Early on in her 20-year career as the church’s youth minister, Per-Lee, 51, turned her Broadway obsession into a way to connect with young people. She’s used productions such as “Guys and Dolls,” “Hairspray” and “Oklahoma” to build the self-esteem and self-confidence that comes with meeting a challenge.
“These shows help teens do things they never dreamed they’d do just by having faith and working hard,” she said. “It’s an opportunity for anybody who wants to be involved to be involved. We take anybody and don’t do auditions, just assign roles.”
This week, Per-Lee and a cadre of more than 70 church volunteers and teens are gearing up for four performances of “Footloose.” Parents are pitching in with choreography, stage direction and accompaniment; teens are painting sets, learning to run light and sound boards and practicing dance steps. “It’s a home-grown group effort,” said Per-Lee.
The work begins about two months beforehand, as soon as Per-Lee rents the scripts and scores.
“Even though we’re amateur theater, we apply for the licensing and follow the rules any theater would follow,” she said.”We have about 60 hours to put it together, with rehearsals on Wednesdays and weekends. We do our casting when we get the scripts, and those roles usually go to the older youth. Everyone knows you work your way up here.”
Over the years, Per-Lee has also amassed a considerable costume closet, so outfitting the cast is rarely a problem.
“I may buy some things at the Salvation Army store, and sometimes parents help us make costumes,” she said. “Last year, when we did ‘Guys and Dolls,’ we actually rented period costumes, but that’s something we rarely do. I’ve been saving things for 18 years, so I have a lot.”
Though the preparation is intense, the atmosphere is laid-back, said Per-Lee. It’s not a problem if someone misses a rehearsal. By keeping the pressure low, she can spend more time focusing on having a good time.
“We don’t ask for experts, and we know there will be mistakes that everyone will laugh about,” said Per-Lee. “But we want everyone to try it, to learn something new. Every year, our kids work hard and learn the show, and miraculously, it turns out okay. This is our way of exposing young people to a miracle.”
Performances of “Footloose” at First Presbyterian, 1328 Peachtree St., will be at 7 p.m. tomorrow, 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Food and beverages will be available. Tickets are $10 in advance; $12 at the door. Information: 404-892-8461.
Every other Wednesday, H.M. Cauley brings you positive stories from our community. To suggest a story idea, e-mail hm_cauley@yahoo.com.
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