CONGRATULATIONS WENDY!! Spokane Arts selected Wendy Carroll as the inspiring winner in the "Inclusion" category at their 2022 Awards event September 24, 2022. Well done, Wendy!!
THE MOST MAGICAL THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE OF YOUR LIFE
How It Works
My Turn Theater is one of only a dozen theaters of its kind in the United States. Here actors who have special needs are finally given the opportunity and support to experience the joy of performing in fully-produced Broadway musicals.
We produce two musicals every year with the gift of time and talent from directors, musical directors, light and sound designers, set designers, costumer designers, stage managers and a host of other volunteers who make the experience possible.
All volunteers play major roles in creating this remarkable theater but key to our success are the partners (companion actors) who are matched up with actors, providing support, encouragement and a safety net as they work together from the beginning days of rehearsals through to closing night of the final performance. It is an extraordinary commitment of time. They often tell us it's life-changing.
HOW OUR THEATER WAS BORN
Out of the Shadows Theater is where we began. We brought that
theater company to life in 2016 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
and have left it in the hands of others.
Now we bring this concept to Spokane, WA as My Turn Theater
This is the story of where it ALL began back in 2016
As the son of an actress, my son was dragged to countless auditions, rehearsals and performances. He worked backstage, bringing water to the actors and helping in front of house. One night, during an audition, I looked into the nearly empty theater and saw my son - ever supportive, never complaining, sending encouraging vibes. And then I heard a silent voice say, "When is it my turn?" In that moment my heart broke. How had I missed this? I couldn't say "I don't know," because I did know. His turn was whenever I made it happen.
SO WE MADE IT HAPPEN
I turned to the theater community who knew my son and have lovingly embraced him for years. And they rose to the occasion! Without a single nickel of financial support, I launched Out of the Shadows Theater in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, prepared to take the hit if it flopped. But in my heart I knew it wouldn't. I knew our actors would astonish their audience. I knew the community would respond with optimism, support and goodwill. We had financial donations, in-kind donations, and volunteers. People simply began to believe it would happen.
OUR FIRST PRODUCTION
It was November, 2016. Twenty-four actors and twenty-four shadow actors stepped on the stage at the KROC CENTER, Coeur d'Alene, ID for their first production - "Beauty and the Beast Jr." For most, it was their first time in a performance theater. First time for sets, costumes, make-up, sound, lights, and theater seats. It was distracting, intimidating, scary. It was . . . rough. But we had decided at the beginning of our journey together to celebrate whatever our actors brought us.
And then, twenty-four hours later, the second night of tech week. Three days until opening night. It was the most astonishing transformation ever. It all clicked. It was magnificent. This group of inexperienced actors were suddenly a theater company. They pulled it together in true theater magic fashion.
The 400 seat theater filled rapidly and there was a friendly buzz. Nobody had any idea of the treat in store. The lights dimmed, the audience silenced.
For the next hour the audience laughed and cried, their emotions soared from pride to utter joy. Expectations were surpassed and everyone, audience, production team, actors and shadows shared in the most incredible performance.
The curtain call, oh, it was magnificent! Two bars into the finale and, with near total synchronicity, the audience rose from their seats, exploding with overwhelming emotion. There were three curtain calls with applause that was sustained for a full, incredible, 5 minutes.