My latest chat is with Judy Beasley who has been involved with local theatre in Dalton for several years now as a director, actor, and producer. She brings zest, passion, and dedication to each performance and production. We talk about the exciting show All Together Now! that will be on stage November 12 and 13 in Dalton. It's a global event celebrating local theatre and fundraiser. Money raised on these two nights will benefit our two local theatres: Dalton Little Theatre and Artistic Civic Theatre.

Introducing Judy...

What do you love about your life right now?

Pretty much everything. Knowing the end of my time on earth is getting shorter and shorter is a bummer.

You’re one of the producers for All Together Now! which will be on stage at Hammond Creek Middle School in Dalton on Nov 12 and 13. How did you learn about this global event?

Sometime during the early summer months, I overheard someone mention an MTI event being offered to local theatres as a fundraiser. I found the information on the Music Theatre International website and immediately thought it would be a fantastic opportunity for our two community theatres to join together to produce a celebration of local theatre.

What do you want our community and surrounding communities to know about All Together Now?

My hope is that everyone involved in this celebration will take time to consider the value of theatre to a community.....economically, educationally, socially, and culturally.

Have there been challenges in organizing this event?

Yes! Way too many to enumerate. It is the most complex and frustrating event I have ever tried to put together, but my belief in the benefits of the project has kept me fueled. When I was at my lowest energy, Ted Long (ATN director) and Vicki Featherstone (DLT counterpart ) lifted me up.

What have been the joys?

Getting glimpses of rehearsals with adults and youth singing and dancing together and creating something lovely to see and hear. Witnessing the generosity of volunteers ….their time, their talents....to share their love for live performance.

How many are in the production and who is directing?

There are 36 performers. Ted Long, Heidi Long, and Mary McLawhorne are directors. Ashlyn Barnett and Ariana Avila are choreographers. Joe Ross is the technical director.

Who has been your biggest supporter in producing this?

As the title indicates, it has been an ALL TOGETHER NOW effort.

                                                          Picture credit from DLT website

I want my readers to know a little more about you, so we’re going to switch gears and chat about some other things. What have you enjoyed about being involved in community theatre?

The community it creates is at the top of the list of things I value about community theatre. As an actor, it is a great joy to work together with a wide range of personalities and talents toward a common goal of telling a story well for an audience. As a director, seeing my actors bloom and shine is a total joy. Any role I play in any production onstage, backstage, as a director or as an audience member brings me joy.

I imagine you missed it during the pandemic as much as I have. Are you planning on acting in any upcoming productions yourself in near future?

My immediate plans are to see All TOGETHER NOW to its completion and to direct Silent Night, The (Mostly True) Story of the World's Most Beloved Carol for the Artistic Civic Theatre's holiday show. One of the lessons of the pandemic is that planning ahead/worrying ahead is a wasted effort.

Tell me three fun facts about you.

> My daughter and her family are my heart; my favorite and most admired people in my life.

> A past sport I enjoyed was drag racing my Mustang...legitimate racing, not street racing!

> I was an educator who loved her career for over 30 years.

If you could have a gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it, what message would you want to convey to millions, what would it say and why? 

Be Kind to all God's Creatures.

All of us have had failures where we learn from them and at times we don’t’. Do you have a “favorite failure”?

All my failures have taught me lessons and continue to do so. One truth I have embraced through failed relationships is that I am responsible for my own happiness and that I can not make someone else happy.

In one word describe yourself

Trustworthy.

Thank you for reading my interview with Judy. Please show up and support this incredible production by attending and sharing this chat. Here's the link: tickets