Pittsburg Community Theatre received two Shellies on January 17 at the 2015 ceremony at the Lesher Regional Arts Center in Walnut Creek.
Cherie Persing (Pictured above with PCT Executive Manager Betty Brown), a long-time PCT participant both on and off stage, received a Shellie for her “Special Contribution to the Performing Arts.”
Susan Dodge (Pictured above with Dianna Schepers, Director of South Pacific), won a Shellie for “Outstanding Costumes in a Musical” for the PCT production of ‘South Pacific.’
Persing, a Pittsburg resident, was introduced to PCT nearly 20 years ago when her daughter, Shelley, won a role in the musical ‘Oliver.’ Later she joined her daughter on stage in ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ and also helped sew costumes for the production.
“Cherie has been invaluable as our prop manager,” said PEAHOF inductee Betty Brown, PCT’s Executive Manager. “She ferrets out unusual props that we need. She’s organized and dependable and very pleasant to work with. She’s also an accomplished actress with comedic and character roles.”
Persing, who also serves on PCT’s board as secretary, had previous experience obtaining props while working for Producers Capital Corporation when it was originally located in Orinda. She was the company’s production coordinator for four years while it produced two motion pictures, numerous commercials and several TV pilots.
Part of her job was obtaining special props as well as scouting locations, hiring tech staff and finding housing for actors as well as previewing rough takes for studios and investors.
Persing wore a PCT Gypsy Coat (specially awarded to a cast or crew member after each PCT production) when accepting her award.
Persing has performed with PCT at previous Shellies, but this was her first time in the spotlight by herself at center stage.
“I didn’t win it for being a performer, but I think this is better than that,” Persing said. “They don’t have Shellies for props or for parents carpooling kids to rehearsals.
“When thinking about what it means, it means a great deal of things not for doing one thing. You don’t do this for the recognition, but it sure feels good. I’m so, so excited. I’m still glowing. It makes me feel good to be part of PCT’s history.”
Dianna Schepers, who directed ‘South Pacific,’ said Dodge was a worthy recipient.
“There were over 200 costumes for the show,” she said. “She put in over 300 hours scouring various Army-Navy surplus stores for uniforms, and gathering netting, camouflage and parachutes. She not only made most all the specialty costumes, but coordinated others to help sew costumes.”
Dodge had a role in the musical, and Schepers revealed, “She got stuck with the itchiest costume.”
Dodge, who lives in Benicia, has performed with a number of Bay Area theatre groups, including Diablo Light Opera, the Masquers in Richmond and Benicia Old Town Theatre. She had appeared in one previous PCT production, ‘I Hate Hamlet’ in 2009.
Dodge, who used to own a costume shop in El Sobrante, created a squid costume for PCT’s 2012 youth production of ‘The Little Mermaid.’ “I have always been doing a lot on my own to help costumers and had to step in several times to help design costumes,” said Dodge, who noted cast members had as many as seven different costume changes during the play.
“We went all over to find costumes, and the ones we couldn’t get we had to make like net dresses and a rope dress (the itchy costume Dodge had to wear) and turkey costumes made out of magazines and newspapers. I’d really like to thank Betty Gregg, Jolanda Little and Lois Butler for helping make costumes. They were all nuns in the play and were a Godsend to me.”
Dodge had been nominated one previous time for a regional theatrical award in Sonoma County and was amazed and happy to win with her first Shellie nomination.
“It’s very gratifying the show was recognized,” said Schepers. “We knew we did a good show. We all felt like we won when Susan’s name was announced.”