Author: Todd Ristau

I grew up in the theater.  Warren Players was a place to escape after a long day at school or work.  It was full of familiar faces and friendly people.  You did not have to have money to help with a play.  You did not have to have any acting skills or theater experience to be part of a production.  You didn’t have to be anyone to be part of one of the “longest continually running community theater groups in the country.”  From the age of seven, I did odd jobs around the theater and landed on stage a few times in bit parts.  I was a stagehand a couple of times.  I found my strength, ultimately, in lights and sound.  My years at Warren Players meant a lot to me.  I can remember being awe-struck by Bob and Connie Weiland, directors of the play in which I landed my first role.  The show producers and directors were like mentors to me.  They were people who were dedicated to putting on a “Broadway worthy” show in a small community theater.

I remember constantly looking at the old cast photos that lined the wall in our former Water Street location.  I could only dream of being a lead in a show one day.  A few times I had my chance, but soon discovered that lights and sound were my favorite way to contribute to a show.  Jim Senger mentored me on my first time out in the lighting booth.  Mike Kolos was also around to give me pointers, especially when it came to me blowing circuits when overloading the light board.  This tightly-knit community enriched my life.

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I joined Warren Players Club in 1987. Yes, it was considered a ‘club’ then and you had to pay dues to belong! A whole dollar! I was a single mother of a 7 year old boy and wanted something we could do together which wouldn’t cost an arm and a leg. (I had always loved acting. My first acting role was at the grand old age of 4.) So I decided to try Warren Players. What I found was unbelievable! My son, Jason, and I were welcomed with open arms. That first year, we met some of the most fantastic people you could ever want to know, from Bob and Connie Weiland, Jim Senger, Red Walsh, Chase Putnam, K Cruickshank, Paula Roney, Mike Kolos and too many others to mention. Many couples and families didn’t want a single mom and her kid around! Not Warren Players! As long as we were willing to help, they were willing to teach. My son and I learned so much it’s hard to describe it all and the amount of fun and the love and caring we were shown. I started out as bookholder and went on to props, hair, makeup, set painting and design, acting, producing and directing. The only areas I haven’t done in community theater are lights and sound, but my son learned those and filled my gaps.

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