Jim Fair
Antoinette Hall took advantage of a break during rehearsals to play acoustic guitar. She plays "Titania", the beautiful queen of the fairies, in the play that marks the first time the Greer Children’s Theater will have a full production in the Cannon Centre.
Jim Fair
Emily Koutzer, far left, joins the cast as they warm up their voices before Thursday night's final rehearsal at the Cannon Centre.
Jim Fair
Anna Grace Waldrop, playing a fairy, just got through hair and makeup before the call for the final rehearsal. Heather Snyder did Waldrop's hair and makeup.
Jim Fair
The Greer Childrens Theater will have its first full production at the Cannon Centre. "A Midsummer Night's Dream" will be performed the next two weekends.
Thursday, during the final dress rehearsal for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, which opens Friday night at the Cannon Centre, Antoinette was relaxing in a corner of a dressing room playing acoustic guitar. She plays "Titania", the beautiful queen of the fairies in the play that marks the first time the Greer Children’s Theater will have a full production in the Cannon Centre.
The former Greer High School graduate is passionately involved in the arts and plans to make it a part of her life. Antoinette plays all instruments except the trumpet and French Horn, Her first exposure to drama was as a representative of the high school’s drama department and played in the marching band. She is working toward a degree to teach music to children – specifically the deaf and hard of hearing.
Antoinette is working with Yellow Mama Music in Lyman trying to earn an audition in New York City this summer in front of over 300 industry representatives. She leaves in May for Los Angeles to work as a camp counselor for Big Brothers and Big Sisters and under-privileged children. And atop all that, Antoinette is managing her friend’s business, StickNasties.com, who makes percussion mallets.
During a conversation with GreerToday.com Antoinette talked about her theater experiences.
GreerToday.com: What was your first time on stage like?
Antoinette: I was a junior in high school auditioning for the Wizard of Oz. I was trying to get on as an instrumentalist and I was asked to sing. I loved it.
GT.com: What interests you in theater?
Antoinette: I have always liked the theater. It’s a great feeling when you’re on stage where you have people come out and support us with their hearts and souls.
GT.com: What has theater taught you?
Antoinette: It teaches you to be better at doing things. Not perfect, but it pushes you to be on every time. If I don’t technically get something right away, I have to stick through it. The end result is always so much better than the past.
GT.com: What is opening night like?
Antoinette: The theater is full of energy, if not more energized than it’s ever been.
GT.com: What was your worst moment on stage?
Antoinette: I was in “Little Shop of Horrors” at Brevard. There was a quick change and I was helping a girl with her dress and I split my finger open on her shoe buckles. I didn’t know it right away, but I was bleeding over the flowers, props and everything. There was blood everywhere. That night I fit with the theme of the title.
GT.com: What was your best moment in theater?
Antoinette: I was in the “Vagina Monologues” in Brevard and it was sold out. The crowd was so appreciative and afterwards some people would come up and share their stories with me. It made me feel so good.