Island Park Theatre Group looking for members

The Island Park Theatre Group has enchanted audiences with its captivating performances, showcasing local talent and fostering a sense of community like no other. They have produced shows inspired by classic films like The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, Annie, several Broadway renditions, and more. However, the Covid-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges that have led to a decline in membership, leaving the theatre group without a venue and participants.

“It’s pretty much wiped us out,” said Renee Sochi, president and musical director of the Island Park Theatre Group. “Our venue was a middle school and we used their auditorium. After Covid-19, none of the schools would allow outsiders into their buildings because they had to clean it. So, we didn’t we didn’t own a building or a space.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the theatre has lost countless of its loyal performers, as many Island Park residents have moved out of town and several children have relocated to other theatre groups and performing arts schools.

“Everybody has moved on,” said Sochi. “Those children who were 10 years old when they left us are now 14-15 years old. And after doing shows with us, they’ve gone on to do shows with their schools and other groups that are regional theaters and are able to have a venue or own their own building. Island Park was a family thing, so the money that we made from the show in the previous year is what started us up for the next one.”

Founded in 1990, the theatre group gained popularity in the Island Park community for its exceptional productions and family-oriented environment. For over three decades, hundreds to thousands of children, parents and theatre-lovers have performed in various shows within the group and gained professional insight into the theatre field.

“The children learned how to put together a show and behave on stage from the adults. We treated everyone fairly and the kids were not coddled or treated like babies. They were treated like professional actors and they learned the right way to do things. And it was really a great experience. It’s wonderful to watch them grow as performers and see them come into their own and then take leading roles as they get older.”

Before joining the theatre group in 1991, Sochi, has been a singer for most of her life. After performing as an opera singer in college and singing for her church. Her experience as a seasoned vocalist and piano and voice teacher gave her the confidence to join the theatre when she was asked to play the lead role of Maria in The Sound of Music.

“I thought okay, sure, why not?” said Sochi I just fell in love with the people who were involved and started performing again. When I started having children. My husband got up on stage and he started doing it because I was home with the kids. So it was definitely a family thing.”

Though the onset of Covid-19 has slowed the theatre’s engagement, Sochi says the Island Park community is hoping to host fundraising events to pull people together.

“We are hoping to do small things,” she said. “I know that my church is starting to do some fundraising and reaching out into the computer community. So I’m going to be reaching out to some of the people that have performed with us over the years and asking them if they would like to come and help us do some singing.”

Sochi says that the performers in the theatre group who are still holding on are eager for the chance to perform again soon. Their journey through the challenges of the pandemic has shown that even in the face of adversity, the show must go on.

“Most of us are very passionate about the theatre,” she said. =“We love the theatre. It’s very hard not performing to not be performing. You have to just wait for the opportunity to get up, get out there and do it. I’m hoping to keep inspiring younger generations to keep performing and getting out there and giving performing a try.”