Category: News Article

Written by Ali Carlson

Theater has always been described as an escape. For some, it’s a hobby. For others, it’s entertainment. But for many people, the stage becomes something much deeper – a place of healing, belonging, and survival.

I didn’t fully understand the connection between theater and mental health until I saw what happened when the lights came up. People who struggled to speak suddenly found confidence. Anxiety softened. Friendships formed. For a few hours each night, people felt seen.

Being part of Abrams Spotlight Productions for the last 15 years has opened my eyes to just how important theater has been in my own mental health journey – and in the lives of so many others.

When I first moved to the tiny town of Little Suamico with my husband many years ago, I wondered how I was ever going to find connection here. I had grown up surrounded by theater and the arts, and I knew creative expression was an important part of who I was. But how was I supposed to continue that in a small rural town?

It all changed one day when I attended a local farmers market on a whim.

ASPI had a booth there promoting the theater, and like so many others, I had no idea it even existed. That’s the beauty of Abrams Spotlight Productions. We’re so small that many people don’t realize we’re here – but that’s also our strength. Small but mighty, as I like to say.

I immediately grabbed information and prepared to audition for my first show: Seussical the Musical – the first time ASPI had produced it. I was excited, but nervous. I hadn’t performed in years, especially not singing. Dancing had always been my background, but singing solos? That was completely outside my comfort zone.

Still, I knew I needed something.

My story is not very different from many others. The overwhelming feelings of loneliness and isolation are growing in a society that becomes more digitally focused every day. This is especially true for people who work from home. Without offices, coworkers, and regular face-to-face interaction, many people slowly lose the human connection they don’t even realize they need.

Recent studies have shown that loneliness and social isolation are becoming a major public health concern. In fact, the U.S. Surgeon General reported that lacking social connection can be as harmful to health as smoking several cigarettes a day. That statistic is staggering – but it also explains why community spaces like theater matter so deeply. Theater creates something many adults are missing: genuine human connection. It gives people a place to be seen, heard, valued, and supported in a world that often feels increasingly disconnected.

And adults, especially, struggle with this.

As children, we are encouraged to participate in sports, dance, clubs, music, and activities that naturally create community. But as adults, conversations about loneliness, anxiety, depression, and isolation are often pushed aside. Society does not always encourage adults to openly express those emotions or seek meaningful connection.

That is why theater is so important for mental health.

And I truly believe it is important for everyone.

Every single production I’ve been part of – whether I was performing on stage, choreographing, or directing – I have witnessed the direct impact theater has on cast and crew members. People come alive. Friendships form quickly. Confidence grows. By the end of a production, we become family.

One of the most beautiful parts of theater is that people from completely different backgrounds, cultures, ages, and experiences all come together with one common goal: human connection.

And it’s not just the performers who experience it.

I see it in the audience too.

I love watching children sit in their seats before the curtain rises, unsure what to expect. Maybe they’re mostly excited about the popcorn their parents promised them. Maybe it’s their very first live show. Then the lights go up – and suddenly, everything changes.

Their faces light up.

They laugh, they gasp, they become completely immersed in the magic unfolding in front of them. And afterward, when they get to meet the actors, take photos, and collect autographs, something even more special happens: they want to come back.

They sign up for theater camps. They audition for future productions. They begin building friendships and finding confidence within themselves.

Not every child is a sports kid. Not every child fits naturally into traditional leadership roles at school. Theater gives those kids a place to belong. It gives them a voice, a creative outlet, and a community.

And honestly, our society desperately needs more of that.

So what is your journey?

Are you searching for connection? Struggling with isolation, anxiety, or periods of depression? Maybe theater is something worth trying.

Whether you support the arts financially, volunteer behind the scenes, help build sets, work backstage, or step into the spotlight yourself, community theater matters. These spaces matter.

Because without opportunities like theater, those human connections slowly begin to disappear – and those connections may be more important to our mental health than we realize.

“We must find a way to be heard, or history will be written without us.” – inspired by Thomas Jefferson, 1776 the Musical

The final vote has been cast, the chamber has fallen silent, and the curtain has closed on another unforgettable production.

What an incredible journey it has been!

We are deeply grateful to share that 1776 the Musical was met with tremendous support from our community. Whether you attended one performance or several, volunteered behind the scenes, sponsored the production, or simply shared your enthusiasm with others – thank you. Your support keeps live community theatre alive and thriving at ASPI.

Producing a show like 1776 takes the dedication of countless performers, crew members, volunteers, donors, and audience members. This production reminded us just how powerful theatre can be – bringing history, humor, music, and conversation together on one stage.

We’ve also received a few frequently asked questions, so here are some quick answers:

How can I support ASPI?

ASPI is a nonprofit organization, and every donation helps us continue producing quality live theatre experiences for our community. Donations can be made through our website or by mailing a check directly to ASPI. Interested in sponsorship opportunities? We would love to connect and discuss ways to partner with you or your business.

What’s next for ASPI?

We have an exciting season ahead! Coming up next are Pop-Up Dance Classes, our 2nd Annual Kids Camp, and this holiday season- Miracle on 34th St: A Live Musical Radio Play. Keep an eye on our website and social media pages for details, announcements, and ways to get involved.

How can I get involved?

There’s a place for everyone at ASPI! Whether you’re interested in performing on stage, helping backstage, ushering, building sets, assisting with costumes, serving on committees, or volunteering in another way, we are always looking for passionate community members to join us. Email is at theater.aspi@gmail.com with your interest!

Thank you again for supporting community theatre and for being part of the ASPI family. We are honored to create these experiences with and for this community, and we cannot wait to welcome you back to the theater again soon.

Celebrate America’s 250th birthday with the ASPI! May 7-17, witness 1776: The Musical on the stage! This patriotic production will take the audience through the highly charged trails and obstacles to conquer to get us to the signing of the Declaration of Independence!

In anticipation of the May production, here is your chance to get to know our 1776 director, Will Knaapen!

Q&A

Q: How many years of theater experience do you have?

A: I have been involved in some kind of theater since I was 5 years old. Throughout school, it was largely class plays, church events, and even some movies with friends. In college, I was in theater classes and performed for a number of small plays in Marinette, WI. After that, it was mostly music, but singing in a metal band is basically theater! I rediscovered acting about a decade ago. In total…ooof…35 years of experience. 

Q: Have you been involved in ASPI before?

A: I have been in several ASPI shows, my first being A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum where I played the bombastic Captain Miles Gloriosus. It was so much fun and a role I was very familiar with, so I was really drawn into future performances here. It’s like a family, but without some of the usual cliques you find in other theaters. I was Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, Froggy in The Foreigner, and most recently played Robert in The Play That Goes Wrong, which was one of the most absurd and fun times I have had on stage. 

Q: What is your past directorial experience?

A: This is only my second time directing, actually. My first was a production for Comedy City’s Cardboard Theater entitled Cleverly and Comically, which sadly only had one performance before a cast member got Covid and we had to cancel the run. 1776 is my first musical, but I have been planning out how I would run the show for a very long time!

Q: What is your life like outside of the theater?

A: I am a retired Army veteran, so I have lots of time to pursue my hobbies. Music is a big one, and I formerly sang in a number of bands. I volunteer for various community efforts and programs, like Good Neighbor Week and the Allouez Beautification Committee. I like to spend time with friends and have long conversations about history, politics, music, and hobbies. Those range from video games, movies, reading (especially history), and tabletop gaming to woodworking, hiking, and gardening. I try to be active in my community but focus largely on being a good husband to my amazing wife, Maggie.

Q: What are you most looking forward to with this production?

A: I am genuinely looking forward to seeing how audiences respond to the play! It’s such a complex story, exploring these really interesting, detailed historical figures and what motivated them. There are true Patriots willing to risk everything and Loyalists who wanted to reconcile with England, but the script doesn’t hide the hypocrisy of demanding freedom while enslaving others, or the fear that it seemed very unlikely the Colonies could win a war against the British Empire. There is romance and conflict and so much life in the history, and sometimes we forget that these weren’t “demigods” as Ben Franklin puts it, but men and women with all their flaws and idiosyncrasies. 

Q: What are you most looking forward to in working with ASPI?

A: I always look forward to working with the tech side to figure out how to present a show, and with David and Debra Jolly being so passionate about the project, we really got the chance to try different design ideas and come up with a wonderful presentation style. We are trying some different lighting techniques and using a raked stage, which puts part of the stage at a slight downward angle so everyone can be seen more easily. Our set designer Cyndee pitched that idea and did a great job with the overall layout, painting, and embellishments that make it seem like we are in Independence Hall.

Q: What can audiences look forward to in this musical? 

A: There are definitely some standout moments in the show that will leave people in stitches and in tears. One song in particular is absolutely gutting and highlights the cost of independence and the realities of war. We don’t have many dance numbers, but Julie and Deb joined forces to make some really fun pieces that I think the audience will love. It helps break up the scenes in Congress by adding movement, otherwise it’s just a bunch of people sitting around for two hours. The costumes are fantastic, and we paid special attention to details like the color of the tablecloths actually used at the time, and canes and walking sticks carried by gentlemen, and even the chairs needed specific attributes or they wouldn’t feel right. The second the curtain opens, people will have so many details to look for, so many little pieces and accessories. And every actor worked hard to research the history of their character to come up with their motivations and reasoning. It’s a very special show.

Q: Would you please share something special about the music in this production?

A: For me, this is a very personal show. I first saw the film version at my grandparents’ house, and my two brothers and I have been singing the songs and quoting our favorite lines for decades. The music is perfect! Some songs are light and funny, some are boisterous and loud, some help drive the story home. One song is about the Triangle Trade, shipping rum and Bibles to Africa, then slaves to the Caribbean, then molasses back to the American colonies to make rum, then repeating the process. It made a few people very rich at the expense of millions of humans being ripped from their homes, families, language, and culture. It’s a lecture given by the worst man in Congress to everyone else about the hypocrisy of profiting from slavery without ever directly taking part in it, or judging the South when New England sailed the ships and processed the molasses. All historical fact, all part of the history, and such a harsh lesson. It reminds us that many of our Founders were not perfect, that some weren’t even good people, but we would not have a country without them. What would our country be like if we had ended slavery at the very start? What would have happened if John Adams had given up? If Ben Franklin hadn’t supported him? There are so many questions that are brought up in the music that I really hope trigger discussion and maybe some reading and learning. History is fascinating, and 1776 doesn’t shy away from the ugly parts any more than it does the beauty!

Q: What else would you like to share with the ASPI community?

A: I just can’t say enough how proud I am of this cast and crew! We have people who have never acted before giving stellar, realistic performances. The hours of work they’ve put into the music and movements, and dealing with an admittedly picky and passionate director has been so humbling. I have some strict personal rules for myself about how to treat the cast and that this is a collaboration, not a general giving order, and I think that has worked really well for us. No yelling, no drama, no tension, just people having fun and trying new things together. I am loving every minute of it and I think the audience will, too!

We cordially invite all to join in witnessing through music a historical milestone in American history! Purchase tickets NOW! Tickets can be purchased online at abramsspotlightproductions.com. Showtimes are May 7-9 and May 14-16 at 7pm, and May 10 and May 18 at 1pm. Call the Box Office at (920) 826-5852 with any questions.