For decades, local teenagers in the Midland area have devoted their summer vacations to staging musicals with Teenage Musicals Inc. (TMI). In many cases, their experiences have inspired them long after the final curtain has dropped.
TMI is marking 6 decades of providing musical theater encounters to students ages 13-23.
For the love of theater
TMI began in 1962, when students associated with Midland voice and music teacher Betty Hath asked her in order to create a summer music. At the time, children and teenagers had very few opportunities to perform in plays.
Betty and her husband, Gerald, answered the kids’ wishes and went to work upon their first show, “I’ll Never Let You Go, ” performing at the particular Grace A. Dow Memorial Library Auditorium. About 30 students were involved that first year, either working backstage or performing. The particular group grew to eventually accommodate over 100 college students.
Through TMI, teenagers and young adults are involved in nearly every aspect of putting on a musical.
In the summer of 1999, former Midlander Micah Young landed the role within TMI’s production of “Babes in Arms. ” He enjoyed learning different skills, participating in fundraisers plus hanging out with fellow TMI members after rehearsals and performances.
“That community environment is so important when you’re a teenager, ” Young stated.
In 2002, Young was given the chance to conduct a rehearsal for “The Wizard of Oz” under Jim Hohmeyer, which Young described as a “formidable moment. ” Young went on to conduct several other TMI shows and has been student president on the board.
“That experience prepared me with regard to a lot, ” Younger said. “Conducting is one of those things you learn by doing. ”
TMI left Young feeling empowered about pursuing a career within the carrying out arts. He has since worked in 11 Broadway shows; he just began as the substitute pianist with the Broadway manufacturing of “The Music Man, ” the particular same show that TMI is executing this 12 months.
“Midland offers a lot of resources, ” he said. “To have TMI, these are tried and true people performing the arts for the living. It opens your mind to ‘I can do this. ’”
Growing up in Bay City, Claudia Marsh had no summer time theater opportunities. She planned to study theatre in college but was lacking confidence inside her acting abilities. In 2008, the girl sister heard TMI had been hosting auditions for “Oklahoma! ” and encouraged Marsh to try out. Although hesitant, Marsh decided on a whim in order to audition plus landed the role within the ensemble.
“It was the best decision I could’ve made, ” she said.
She credits team users Billy Anderson, Adam Gardner-Northrop and Kelli Jolly regarding helping her realize the girl talent and build her confidence. Marsh continued to perform in TMI displays including “Beauty and the Beast, ” “Cats” plus “Kiss Me Kate. ” In addition to performing on stage, Marsh was a student representative upon the TMI board.
Marsh, who now resides inside Midland, continued to study musical movie theater performance with a concentration in performing and directing at Central Michigan University. She teaches middle school drama classes, directs high school productions in Bay City and continues to audition intended for area exhibits. She also serves as a board chair at Midland Center for the Arts.
“I think each student can have their own experience, ” Marsh said. “Mine was having people notice that I could be a leader and fostering me. ”
Building friendships 1 summer in a time
The small team of adults assists teens in the particular weeks leading up in order to TMI displays.
Former Midlander Pennye Padgett served on the TMI board and as choreographer to get 16 shows, spanning from “Bye Birdie” in 1973 to “The Little Mermaid” in 2018.
“The biggest star inside the world to me was Betty Hath, ” Padgett stated. “She was lovely in real life and on stage. It was such a thrill for me and both of my girls to perform pertaining to Betty and Gerry Hath. ”
After helping with a couple displays in the 1970s, Padgett moved out of state for a while. Within 1993, director Kay Collison invited the girl back in order to Midland to choreograph “Carousel. ” Upon seeing the particular smiling faces of the kids gathered inside the cinema, Padgett has been fully committed.
“It’s a family. The older kids took care of the younger children, ” Padgett said. “They helped them and taught them the dances. ”
Padgett appreciated how hard the particular students worked well for shows, saying that in the end they trained the grown ups more than the adults can teach all of them. She has received notes through former TMI members saying how much the particular program provides meant in order to them plus inspired them over the years.
“It’s the most rewarding thing to me, ” she mentioned. “We’re passing it on every single summer. ”
Peter Conarty, of Midland, taught speech and drama for Midland Public Schools in the 1970s. It was through his connection with Gerald Hath that this individual became involved with TMI.
“I became a TMI board member and before I knew it, I was directing shows, ” Conarty said. “It was right in the field. ”
Conarty directed seven TMI shows, but one of his favorites had been “Guys and Dolls” within 1975. Not only was it their first time directing TMI, but he or she also has fond memories associated with building the particular sets with the students. This individual explained how the program brought out his enthusiasm and energy for theater.
Conarty observed how TMI provided an opportunity for learners to not only showcase their talents, but also meet other people from around the region. To this day, Conarty keeps in contact along with former TMI members, receiving the occasional email and Christmas card.
“It’s nice in order to be remembered after all these years, ” Conarty said. “In all the many years I focused, the students were wonderful. They really put themselves out for the shows. ”
The legacy lives on
Students have continued to benefit from TMI even after the particular summer time has concluded. As early as the particular 1970s, TMI awarded theatre scholarships – funded by the shows’ profits – in order to Midland college students who wished to further their own studies in the performing artistry. United Steelworkers Local 12075 currently provides an annual scholarship worth $5, 000 to a TMI college student who exhibits commitment to community.
Betty Hath died in 2016 and Gerald Hath passed away in 2018, but their particular legacy lives on in the life they touched.
For Marsh, TMI has impacted her life within multiple ways, and she still fosters friendships made during the girl time with the program. She can’t imagine how her existence would be without her experience with TMI.
“I’m really thankful that will I got to meet Gerry and Betty Hath, ” Marsh said. “They had been amazing people who made a difference in kids’ lives 60 years later. ”
Padgett explained how TMI instills valuable lessons inside younger generations, including the value of hard work, public speaking, relationships plus following the particular rules.
“I hope the community keeps supporting TMI, ” Padgett stated. “There’s so much to be gained within the disciplines. ”
