As a mom helping run her kids? school talent show in the 1980s, Cheryl Marshall found she enjoyed live performance.
As new chief executive officer for Meadow Brook Theater, she still enjoys it, but now with a bigger audience.
‘It’s a thrill, exciting to watch a show from beginning to end,? she said.
‘It’s kind of magical ? our people design the lighting and costumes and produce them right here. Our carpenters build the set based on producers? designs. They build them in their workshop and move them piece by piece to the stage. It’s like building a house.?
The cast and crew bring the story to life, she said.
‘The final character is the audience ? without them, all of this would be for nothing,? she said.
Marshall grew up in Cambridge, Ohio. She and her husband, Larry Marshall, moved to Michigan 26 years ago with their children, Jason, Julie, and Jared. Working in manufacturing for the automobile industry, Larry moved the family first to Owosso, then to Independence Township.
‘My husband had a lot of business friends in the Clarkston area,? Cheryl said. ‘I fell in love with the small town atmosphere. I grew up in small-town Ohio.?
As their children grew up, she volunteered to help out with school activities for her children.
‘A little production at Bailey Lake Elementary ? all this came from that,? she said. ‘I was studying to be a certified public accountant. A friend said to me, ‘you love the theater. You should do what you love.??
Her children brought home fliers from Bailey Lake for Meadow Brook’s Christmas Carol play. She soon found out Meadow Brook offered seasonal work for the annual production, so she applied.
‘Kitty Gentile (box office manager) asked me if I had a resume,? Cheryl said. ‘I told her I didn’t. She said we could interview anyway.?
She got the job, and worked in the box office, answering telephones, typing, helping out wherever needed. She worked her way up the organization in ‘little steps,? she said.
‘I did practically everything,? she said. ‘It was an exciting time for me.?
She was offered the chief executive position this past November on an interim basis. She was named permanent CEO on July 1. She is MeadowBrook’s first female CEO.
‘It’s kind of strange in a way,? she said. ‘Women are making inroads in the field.?
The theater is busy preparing its first show of the season, ‘Murder By Poe,? a mystery thriller set to open Oct. 8.
‘It’s going well,? she said. ‘Rehearsals start Sept. 16. It looks like it will be a great show.?
The season also includes ‘Kong’s Night Out,? a farce set to star Cindy Williams, ‘The Trip to Bountiful,? a drama, and musicals ‘Beyond the Rainbow,? ‘By Jeeves,? and ‘Nunsense 2: The Second Coming.?
‘I’m really excited about the season ? we have some new and wonderful things planned,? she said. ‘This is a nice place. We all work together well. I couldn’t do this without all the expertise everyone brings.?
She still looks forward to the annual show ‘A Christmas Carole,? a tradition for her family since their Bailey Lake years.
‘We’ll have them up from Ohio ? the grandkids love to see the show,? she said.
Meadow Brook’s Theater Guild’s main fundraiser of the year is Sept. 5 in downtown Rochester, offering artwork and sculptures.
‘They’re a wonderful group of women. They’ve been with us for 30 years. They’re just tremendous.?
A new Children’s Series includes four productions, ‘Freedom Train,? ‘Nate the Great,? ‘The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere,? and ‘Charlotte’s Web.?
‘There’s a lot happening. It’s all close to home. It’s affordable,? Cheryl said. ‘It’s a small, intimate space, with no pillars or obstructions.?
Meadow Brook Theater, 207 Wilson Road, is on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester.
‘We’re grateful to Oakland University for renting us this space and letting us do what we do,? Cheryl said.
It has 584 seats in 19 rows, 57 feet from stage to the last row.
‘You get a really good seat anywhere you sit,? she said. ‘There’s not a bad seat in the house. We’re very proud of what we do ? my goal is to make sure the theater goes another 43 years.?
Tickets range from $24 for previews to $39 Saturday night. Most shows are $30. Season tickets range from $104 to $166. Tickets go on sale Sept. 22. Call 248-377-3300.