September - Williamsburg , VA Magazine , Next Door Neighbors

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Loves Children ...and Theatre Naomi Marrow By Lillian Stevens Lisa W. Cumming Photography Naomi Marrow loves children and she loves theatre. “Sometimes, I don’t know which I love more!” exclaims the effervescent director and owner of Backstage Productions, a non-profit theatre which has served the Williamsburg community for a dozen years. Backstage Productions offers free perfor- Call Leigh for your real estate needs. 757-291-4449 15 Years Experience leighbaumgardner@lizmoore.com 5350 Discovery Park Blvd. • Williamsburg 22 NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORSSEPTEMBER2010 mances several times a year at the Williamsburg Regional Library. For those who might wonder how good a free performance can be, Naomi calls to mind a “Best of Williamsburg” poll in the Virginia Gazette where her theatre company came in second only to The Williamsburg Players. In addition to performances, affordable theatre classes are available to children from all walks of life who want to learn all about theatre. “We provide an opportunity for everyone to be involved in the theatre, no matter what their experience level – and we provide a theatre education in a small setting where we work closely with each student for a minimal price,” Naomi Stair Buggy Stair Lifts Elderly and disabled, do not risk falling and getting injured by climbing your stairs. Install an affordable and dependable stair lift in your home today. Call C.P.Philbeck at 757-561-5262 Mention this ad and get $ 200 OFF www.stairbuggy.com
explains. With approximately 60 actors hailing from Williamsburg, York County, and even Virginia Beach and Richmond, Backstage Productions – which just wrapped up its July production of The Sound of Music – has no local counterpart. The company produces two “open door” plays a year, including A Christmas Carol in the winter as well as a summer musical. For these plays, actors do not have to be taking classes – they can just walk in. Backstage Productions also provides an array of opportunities for children of all ages to engage in year-round theatre and classes, often with a history lesson on the side. “Recently, my older students were working on The Crucible in class because they wanted to study real characters – people who actually existed – through historical research. So we incorporated that into our class,” she says. “We’ve taken in children with no formal training, handicapped children – children from all demographics and walks of life. We train them and put them on that stage. And they do really well and the audience enjoys what we do, so that is great.” - Naomi Marrow Bellawood Brazilian Cherry Olive Branch Church provides the setting for all classes and rehearsals. “I believe that the wonderful people at Olive Branch consider this a ministry of sorts because we are working with young children, giving them a place to be on a Friday night – a place where they are safe, secure and loved.” Naomi’s own theatrical training began in the wake of World War II when she was a young girl living in Essex, England, located about 30 miles south of London. “I was six years old when the war ended. During the war, we were often shut indoors because of air raids. We didn’t know of luxuries like movies or entertainment, really. We would come home from school and just be happy that our house was still standing,” she says. With the war over, Naomi says that everyone was at loose ends. “What were we supposed to do with ourselves? We had no preparation for a social life. All we knew was how to put black curtains on the windows and pray a lot for our safety,” she confides. Then Naomi, at age six, met the lady who would become her mentor and a life-long friend. “There was this lady named Thelma House who had been on the London stage prior to the war. So with the war over, she decided to start a little theatre in the local town hall. My mother had heard about her and so off we went to meet her!” exclaims Naomi. “She was mainly interested in working with older children, but she agreed to take me on. To prove myself, I never missed a rehearsal – not once.” Thus began Naomi’s love affair with theatre. WE KNOW WINE Max Richter Riesling Mosel Slightly sweet with nuances of crisp apples and peaches with a long, crisp finish. Reg. $ 11 99 $ 9 50 Sale ends 9/25/10 4680-15 Monticello Marketplace (757) 564-4400 www.grapesbythecrate.com NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORSSEPTEMBER2010 23
Page 1 and 2: Cover Photo by Lisa W. Cumming Phot
Page 3 and 4: Teachers to Admire W-JCC 2010 TEACH
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Page 27 and 28: with Campus Crusade for Christ. “

September - Williamsburg , VA Magazine , Next Door Neighbors

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