In the early 1990s, Diane Noonan was impressed enough with a summer theater program for youth in Middletown that she asked people, why don’t we have that in Hamilton?
“I had always been involved in theater since high school,” Noonan said. “So, 25 years ago, my dad gave me a check for $,2000 and told me to put his money where my mouth was.
“Before long, we sent out a letter (seeking donations), and within months we had $10,000 in the bank — and Encore Youth Theatre was created,” she said. “It goes to show that all you need is someone to believe in you, and you can create anything.”
Encore has produced musicals featuring dozens of Butler County youth every year since. The summer shows include those in 7th through 12th grade, and the fall shows are for third- through sixth-graders — called Encore Junior.
The professional-quality shows attract big audiences that fill the 440+ seats in Parrish Auditorium on the Miami University Hamilton campus for every performance, often selling out.
Director Ben Schneider, who will lead this summer’s “Mamma Mia!” on the Parrish stage, said his first Encore Youth Theatre experience dates back to 2001 when he performed in “Grease”, directed by Rhonda Lucas.
“I really didn’t know what to expect from the summer but it truly changed my life, as corny as that sounds,” Schneider said. “I made friends with kids from all over the Butler County area — Fairfield, Ross, Badin, Edgewood, etc. — and I got to learn from Encore alumni such as Jon Vaughn and Justin Rampa.
“The production was fantastic because Rhonda made it a point to include the kids in all aspects of theater. From set construction to costumes to painting the floor, she was always there to encourage us to have fun,” he said.
He intended to do the same thing when he became a director, many years later.
“In 2009, I was fortunate enough to give back to Encore and help train the younger actors and actresses in the Butler County area by forming Encore Junior with Scott Christian,” Schneider said. “This really has been a great feeder for Encore and has given students from third grade to sixth grade a chance to do theater and have a first experience in it.
“I was a vocal director for ‘Sleeping Beauty’, ‘High School Musical Jr.’, ‘Alice in Wonderland Jr.’, and ‘Aladdin Jr.’ I was also the vocal director and director for ‘Mulan Jr.’ in 2012, which gave me such an appreciation for the students who came out to take part in theater. I truly loved doing this because we got to see students come to life on stage for the first time and they got to express themselves in ways they couldn’t before. It was magical,” Schneider said.
In recent past summers he directed the Encore Youth Theatre musicals “Hairspray”, “All Shook Up” and “Bring It On”. This is part of Encore’s main objective: To bring back its students and allow them to flourish in all aspects of theater.
“Diane Noonan and Lynn Huff have supported my ideas from the start and always were willing to work with me and make it come true,” he said of the chairperson and business manager, who serve as producers for the summer shows and are on the board of trustees for Encore.
“This summer, I will be given the chance to direct the 25th-anniversary musical ‘Mama Mia!’ which is such an honor to me,” he said.
“Encore has changed my life for the better and I’m so grateful for it.”
Noonan, who is the director of the Butler County Board of Elections, estimates 2,500 local youth have been involved in Encore in some fashion in the past two-and-a-half decades. She credits a core group of people with founding and maintaining the organization: Lynn Huff, Susan Vaughn, and her parents, Jim and Barb Noonan.
More than performance
Encore Youth Theatre alum Anna Schindler spent 7 years with the organization as a performer and is engaged to marry someone she met in her final year with the theater organization.
“We had crossed paths several times before this, but never really got to know each other until that summer,” she said regarding her relationship with Nicholas Brown, with whom she performed in “Annie Get Your Gun” years ago. “We hung out a lot during rehearsals since most of our scenes were together so we got to know each other pretty well and went on a few dates during this time.
“We made it official on the night of dress rehearsal. It was fun because Encore rule No. 7 was about PDA so everyone kept reminding us about it! We have been together since then (4 years) and got engaged in June of 2018,” Schindler said.
Not only did Encore play an instrumental role in her performance education and love life, Schindler recently got the chance to direct an Encore Junior show — “Elf Jr”, extending her theater experience.
“This was my first major directing gig, and I love working with young people,” she said. “I relied on my peers Zac Holman and George Ivan to assist me with music and choreography. My mom, Jeanne Schindler, had done several years of costuming for Encore, so she did that as well as co-producing with Carmen Fields,” Schindler said.
“I also had another Encore alum, Clancey Butts, stage-manage for me. My fiancé even helped out a bit. It really was a group effort and I had a great support system. The actors did so well and it is one of my biggest accomplishments,” Schindler said.
Butts was extremely active in Encore and went on to play a lead role in the Rotary Club of Hamilton’s big musical this past March: “Mary Poppins.” He played Bert, which had several solos and performed fast-paced choreography.
Encore Youth Theatre has been instrumental in shaping the lives of young performers in Butler County, and Noonan says she expects that will continue for years to come.
“I can’t believe it’s been 25 years. But I wouldn’t have spent my summers any other way. The students we have been blessed to have in our program are outstanding young adults who many now are outstanding adults and many are now working in professional theater,” she said.
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How Encore is celebrating the big two-five
In an effort to reunite people who have been part of Encore Youth Theatre and to show the public highlights from the past 25 years, there will be an anniversary performance. Encore is hosting “Memories and Music: 25 years of Encore Youth Theatre” at 7 p.m. Oct. 12 at Parrish Auditorium.
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The public — and especially past Encore actors and crew — is invited.
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Performers will be Encore alumni and there will be songs from every show the group has ever performed. Former Encore members who have gone on to have careers in professional theater and performance will be involved, with some traveling to return to Hamilton and participate in this event.
HOW TO GO
What: “Mamma Mia!”
Who: Encore Youth Theatre
When: 7:30 p.m. July 18-20 and 2 p.m. July 20
Where: Parrish Auditorium, Miami University Hamilton
Tickets: (513) 675-KIDS; $15 with a $2 discount for students and senior citizens
More: Follow facebook.com/encoreyouth for information on a fall event for Encore alumni
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What: “Memories and Music: 25 years of Encore Youth Theatre”
Who: Encore alumni and the public
When: 7 p.m. Oct. 12
Where: Parrish Auditorium, Miami University Hamilton
Tickets: (513) 675-KIDS; $15 with a $2 discount for students and senior citizens