| My Life In The Entertainment World |
When I was in High School, my girlfriend Daisy Clark asked me if I wanted to see a play the High School was doing. I
thought that might be fun so I went with her.
The High School was Liberty Center High School in Liberty Center, Ohio. And the play was actually a Musicals called ,
"Oklahoma". The director was Louisa Strock.
I was so amazed by all the lights, the acting, the costumes the music and singing that I said to myself, "Wow, I want to do
this some day." Louisa Strock is my acting Mentor.
Well I got my chance the following year with Louisa Strock's wonderful production of "Bye Bye Birdie"I didn't get any
leading role but I was on stage quite a bit singing in the large chorus. I did get one line as a reporter. I was hooked after
that.
I got married in my Senior year of school and tried to work and finish School at the same time but, that didn't work out very
well. I kept falling asleep at work and at School.
I was attending Four County Vocational School during my Junior and Senior years. There were Armed Forces Recruiters
going through the Schools at times. The Air Force Recruiter informed me that I could finish my education during working
hours after Basic Training of I joined the Air Force. They had a program that you could enter that prepped individuals for
College. When this class was finished I would receive the equivalent of a High School Diploma.
I quit School and signed up for the United States Air Force in November of 1972 under a delayed enlistment program with
a guaranteed field in Electronics. I was called to Active Duty in May of 1973. Just one month after my son Robert Douglas
Rhoads was born.
After Basic Training I went to a technical School at Shepard Air Force Base in Texas. Then after Technical School, I was
assigned to a Communications Squadron at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida.
One day when I was at the Airman's Club on base, I was approached by an Airman named Jayson Zanetti. He asked me if
I liked to do plays. I said, "Sure." I told him of my experience in Liberty Center.
Jayson told me that they were forming a little Theatre Group on Base and were going to produce the musical "A Funny
Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum". I agreed to try out for the musical and got the part of "Hero". I felt sorry for
her because a lot of the actors ,not Jayson or I and a few others, were not taking the musical seriously. Some were
actually running off to the Music Rooms to play or even make out. We had to go fetch them at times when they were
supposed to be on stage.I have to mention a special actor in the Musical that really impressed me. I believe his name
was Eric but, I can't remember his last name. I wish I could. He played the lead role and did a very fine job.
One day during Rehearsals Jayson told me that he was going to Surfside Playhouse in Cocoa Beach try out for a play
called, "Norman, Is That You?" He wanted to know if I wanted to go watch with him and Roxanne. I went only to watch. The
director, Baird Stafford handed me a sign up sheet and asked me to try out. I told him that I was there just to watch and he
asked me, "Why?" He convinced me to try out. Half way during the tryouts he had everyone take a break but, asked Jayson
and I to meet him in the lobby. He told Jayson and I that we were doing a fine job but to stop shaking. He said that we
were shaking so much he could hear our knees Knocking. This was the first time I had ever tried out for a play in a real
theatre.
I got the part of Norman. It was a very funny play.
I got a lot of flack from people I worked with because the play was about a young man named Norman who's Father
comes to visit him in New York after leaving his wife, His father is shocked to find out that his son Norman was gay and
living with another man named Garson.(No, in case you are wondering, I am in no way shape or form gay !.)
Norman's Mother comes to see Norman and finds her husband there. They blame each other for the change in Norman
and Norman's father tries to convince Norman and Garson they are not gay. There was a movie made of this play starring
Red Fox.
I did a few other shows at The Surfside Playhouse.
I played a flat foot named William Henry Blore in Agatha Christies play "Ten Little Indians".
I played the part of John Bland "Seven Keys to Baldpate".This was a Murder/Comedy.
I also played Marvin Hudgens in "Dark of the Moon. I was the tough guy of the town and I wasn't going to let no witch boy
streal my gal. In this play I came up with a lot of mine own ideas for my charachter. The Directors never said a word about
the ideas I came up with until after the show was over. We had a cast party after the last show and at that party, Director
Baird Stafford, told me that I had doen a wonderful job with the show.
I told modestly told him, "Thank you".
He said he was serious. He said that if it wasn't that I had responsibilites as a father and a husband, I could probbably
make it as a professional actor. But, there was no way I was going to give up my family to become a professional if that
was what it would take. So, I continued enjoying doing amateur theatre for many years to come.
I got another chance at acting while I was active duty military.
I was stationed at Ramstein Air Force base in Germany. In the nearby city of Kaiserslautern, there was an Armed forces
Theatre
thought that might be fun so I went with her.
The High School was Liberty Center High School in Liberty Center, Ohio. And the play was actually a Musicals called ,
"Oklahoma". The director was Louisa Strock.
I was so amazed by all the lights, the acting, the costumes the music and singing that I said to myself, "Wow, I want to do
this some day." Louisa Strock is my acting Mentor.
Well I got my chance the following year with Louisa Strock's wonderful production of "Bye Bye Birdie"I didn't get any
leading role but I was on stage quite a bit singing in the large chorus. I did get one line as a reporter. I was hooked after
that.
I got married in my Senior year of school and tried to work and finish School at the same time but, that didn't work out very
well. I kept falling asleep at work and at School.
I was attending Four County Vocational School during my Junior and Senior years. There were Armed Forces Recruiters
going through the Schools at times. The Air Force Recruiter informed me that I could finish my education during working
hours after Basic Training of I joined the Air Force. They had a program that you could enter that prepped individuals for
College. When this class was finished I would receive the equivalent of a High School Diploma.
I quit School and signed up for the United States Air Force in November of 1972 under a delayed enlistment program with
a guaranteed field in Electronics. I was called to Active Duty in May of 1973. Just one month after my son Robert Douglas
Rhoads was born.
After Basic Training I went to a technical School at Shepard Air Force Base in Texas. Then after Technical School, I was
assigned to a Communications Squadron at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida.
One day when I was at the Airman's Club on base, I was approached by an Airman named Jayson Zanetti. He asked me if
I liked to do plays. I said, "Sure." I told him of my experience in Liberty Center.
Jayson told me that they were forming a little Theatre Group on Base and were going to produce the musical "A Funny
Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum". I agreed to try out for the musical and got the part of "Hero". I felt sorry for
her because a lot of the actors ,not Jayson or I and a few others, were not taking the musical seriously. Some were
actually running off to the Music Rooms to play or even make out. We had to go fetch them at times when they were
supposed to be on stage.I have to mention a special actor in the Musical that really impressed me. I believe his name
was Eric but, I can't remember his last name. I wish I could. He played the lead role and did a very fine job.
One day during Rehearsals Jayson told me that he was going to Surfside Playhouse in Cocoa Beach try out for a play
called, "Norman, Is That You?" He wanted to know if I wanted to go watch with him and Roxanne. I went only to watch. The
director, Baird Stafford handed me a sign up sheet and asked me to try out. I told him that I was there just to watch and he
asked me, "Why?" He convinced me to try out. Half way during the tryouts he had everyone take a break but, asked Jayson
and I to meet him in the lobby. He told Jayson and I that we were doing a fine job but to stop shaking. He said that we
were shaking so much he could hear our knees Knocking. This was the first time I had ever tried out for a play in a real
theatre.
I got the part of Norman. It was a very funny play.
I got a lot of flack from people I worked with because the play was about a young man named Norman who's Father
comes to visit him in New York after leaving his wife, His father is shocked to find out that his son Norman was gay and
living with another man named Garson.(No, in case you are wondering, I am in no way shape or form gay !.)
Norman's Mother comes to see Norman and finds her husband there. They blame each other for the change in Norman
and Norman's father tries to convince Norman and Garson they are not gay. There was a movie made of this play starring
Red Fox.
I did a few other shows at The Surfside Playhouse.
I played a flat foot named William Henry Blore in Agatha Christies play "Ten Little Indians".
I played the part of John Bland "Seven Keys to Baldpate".This was a Murder/Comedy.
I also played Marvin Hudgens in "Dark of the Moon. I was the tough guy of the town and I wasn't going to let no witch boy
streal my gal. In this play I came up with a lot of mine own ideas for my charachter. The Directors never said a word about
the ideas I came up with until after the show was over. We had a cast party after the last show and at that party, Director
Baird Stafford, told me that I had doen a wonderful job with the show.
I told modestly told him, "Thank you".
He said he was serious. He said that if it wasn't that I had responsibilites as a father and a husband, I could probbably
make it as a professional actor. But, there was no way I was going to give up my family to become a professional if that
was what it would take. So, I continued enjoying doing amateur theatre for many years to come.
I got another chance at acting while I was active duty military.
I was stationed at Ramstein Air Force base in Germany. In the nearby city of Kaiserslautern, there was an Armed forces
Theatre
Congratulations ! You discovered my Easter Egg!
In my younger years, I was involved in a lot of Theatre productions. I chose to create a page that told a story about
my years in the theatre and share some pictures that were taken during these years. I hope you enjoy this page.
This page is still under construction so please come back for more of my story.
In my younger years, I was involved in a lot of Theatre productions. I chose to create a page that told a story about
my years in the theatre and share some pictures that were taken during these years. I hope you enjoy this page.
This page is still under construction so please come back for more of my story.