Queen of the stage

Sept. 26, 2007

First performing onstage in the second grade, well-known Petoskey thespian Betsy Willis always knew that theater would be a part of her life. After 30 years of involvement with the Little Traverse Civic Theater, she’s making good use of her business degree and her longtime love of the stage as LTCT’s new managing director.

CREATIVE BUSINESS SENSE
“I’m one of those unusual people who have that really creative side and then also that really strong business side,” says Willis, relaxing in the civic theater’s business office, which is located in the lower level of Petoskey’s Crooked Tree Arts Center. Her father’s early retirement in Ohio preceded the family’s move to Petoskey – Willis’ choice after spending many childhood vacations here – for her senior year. She studied business at Western Michigan University for two years, and then studied at Northwood Institute in Midland (now Northwood University), but got back into theater at Northwood. “They were just starting an arts program there, and one of the things we did was put together a little theater group,” remembers Willis. “When I returned to Petoskey in 1976-1977, I got involved with Little Traverse Civic Theater, and here I’ve been ever since.”

A ‘BETSY’ OF ALL TRADES
Volunteering with LTCT, Willis has participated in all aspects of theater: props, costumes, lights, set construction, sound, directing, performing, producing, and stage managing. She’s been involved in close to 75 out of 90 plays in the last 30 years, with 20 of those roles having been onstage. “I love being onstage and I love to direct; directing is creating people art,” says Willis, who also enjoys being a patron in the audience at least once a year. “I also like to stage manage. You have to be businesslike about what you do; you’re running a whole show, but you also have to be creative, and then if something happens you have to solve it – right now.”

VOLUNTEER TURNED DIRECTOR
In 2003, Willis took over as volunteer business manager for LTCT, which turned into a part-time paid position in 2005. After a brief hiatus in 2006, Willis has been enjoying her full-time paid position as managing director since February of this year.
“I manage the day-to-day business of the organization,” explains Willis. “I’m in charge of working out a budget and then making sure we adhere to it.” Publicity, grant-writing, working with the board of directors, and looking for major donors are part of the job. Plans are in the works for a fundraising committee and major yearly fundraiser to help with theater expenses.
“Our big fundraising has always been just our shows,” says Willis, “and that’s just not enough. In order for it to be enough, we would have to raise our ticket prices to a point where nobody could afford to come.”

LTCT’S EVOLUTION
The area’s community theater got its start in 1945 when the Petoskey Little Theater was formed. The group put on
its first play, “You Can’t Take It With You,” in 1946, and continued to practice and perform at least one show each year
in various locations around Petoskey.
“In 1960-1961, they took a hiatus from producing shows, but the group didn’t go away,” explains Willis, “it just kind of reorganized itself.” They applied for Michigan non-profit status, and changed their name to Little Traverse Civic Theater in order to encompass the entire Little Traverse Bay area. “Guys and Dolls” was the group’s first musical.
“They would take out a loan from the bank in order to do a show, and then at the end of the show, they would pay the money back,” says Willis. This happened for each show until a 1970s production of “Fiddler on the Roof” allowed the organization to pay off its loan for good and continue with money in the bank.
“We’ve now gone thirty years without having to go to the bank and say we need a loan in order to do a show,” says Willis. “We’ve gone from being a loose organization to being first a Michigan non-profit, and now a 501c3 corporation. Living in the same place for 26 years (the Crooked Tree Arts Center has been the LTCT’s home since 1981) has made a big difference in the organization.”

COMMUNITY THEATER FOR ALL
Kicking off the 2007-2008 upcoming season, titled “Shake up Your Life With a Classic,” is an Agatha Christie mystery thriller called, “The Mousetrap.” Performances are Oct. 11-14 and Oct.
18-21 with an afterglow on Friday, Oct. 12. “It is the longest running play ever,” says Willis. “It’s been running continuously in the west end of London since 1952.”
Those interested in learning more about LTCT can attend a free seminar on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Crooked Tree Arts Center, called “Understanding Your Local Theater.” Learn more about the group’s agenda, the process of selecting a show and producing it from start to finish, as well as what volunteer opportunities are available. At 8 p.m. that evening, visitors will be able to sit in on a cast rehearsal of “The Mousetrap.”
“I think we’re one of the better community theaters in the state,” says Willis. “We’re certainly respected by a number of large groups. They know that when they come to see one of our shows, they’re going to see a quality show.”

Tickets for “The Mousetrap”can be purchased by visiting the Box Office at
the Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey
from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Saturday, by calling 231-348-1850, or by visiting www.ltct.org. Call or check out the web site for more information on upcoming shows, auditions, memberships and volunteering – no experience is necessary.