“I see a bright future of continued collaboration and growth for both ACT and NSU theatre arts.” - Jim Walker, ACT Co-Founder A Familiar Face, New Vision For ACT Artistic and Managing Director Brian T. Schultz, the experience of returning to JFAC carried deep personal resonance. A Northern alumnus, Schultz was involved in numerous NSU productions between 1995 and 2000, from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” to “Waiting for Godot.” He knew the space, understood its possibilities, and appreciated what it offered for a production of “The Sound of Music’s” scale. “Though the times are certainly different than my college days, there are elements of college students that never change,” Schultz said, reflecting on working with the student ensemble. “I appreciate watching the students’ energy and their desire to be present and to learn and to put on the best production possible. I did see more than one element of ‘backstage banter’ that’s the same today as it was in my day! And, of course, the trumpet scales—just like being in college again!” While ACT has a permanent home at the Capitol Theatre, Schultz recognized that JFAC offered something different. “The Johnson Fine Arts Center offered scale and creative flexibility that fit ‘The Sound of Music’ particularly well,” he said. Northern’s stage could accommodate large casts and sweeping scenery in ways the Capitol Theatre’s more intimate space couldn’t. What Partnership Actually Enables What makes the current collaboration uniquely powerful is what each institution brings to the production table. Michael Skyles, Northern’s instructor of voice and musical theatre, saw firsthand how the resources aligned. Northern provided expansive facilities and deep musical resources. There was space to run three simultaneous rehearsals—essential when coordinating 104 students and community members. The university supplied a choreographer, three pianists, and an assistant musical director to provide extra musical and dance practice for anyone who requested it. Perhaps most significantly, Northern had a full Broadway-era orchestra, conducted by the highly trained Dr. Christopher Stanichar. “The extra dancing and singing training paired with singing with an expansive orchestra would be very difficult for any community theatre to provide its volunteers,” Skyles said. “We also have a very large orchestra pit, which allowed us to wield the kind of full golden-era Broadway sound that defines ‘The Sound of Music.’”
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