The North Canton Playhouse, located inside Hoover High School, is celebrating its 50th anniversary in April. As a celebration, they are putting on their annual “Curtain Up” Fundraiser April 24-26. 

The current Executive Director of the North Canton Playhouse [NCP] is Lisa Paynter. Her parents founded NCP, therefore she has a long history with the theatre. 

“My parents, Mary and Mac McManaway, founded the North Canton Playhouse in 1976, when I was 14 years old,” she said. “I have been involved since then. First as a performer, then a director, then as an acting class instructor and voice teacher, and eventually as Executive Director.” 

NCP is a place for actors to improve their skills and for lovers of the arts to watch musicals. Freshman Emma Mead has been involved with NCP for eight years. She spoke about her favorite experience with NCP. 

“My favorite part of the Playhouse is how it is a supportive community that gives you the space to explore your creativity and be yourself,” Mead said. 

Mead has had various roles within her eight years, including Ariel in “The Little Mermaid Jr.,” Babette in “Beauty and the Beast Jr.” and the ensemble for other productions. These roles are no easy feat. Hard work is required in order to present a good show. Mead spoke about an average day when rehearing for a show. 

“When rehearsal first starts Mindy and Lisa greet everyone and give an overview of what the rehearsal will be like that day,” she said. “We then are broken off into groups depending on what you are learning that day whether it is a scene or a dance number.” 

Senior Leah Faye has been involved with the NCP for three years. Her most recent role was that of Lydia in “Beetlejuice Jr.” She discussed what made this role so special to her. 

“Lydia has always been one of my dream roles, and the opportunity to debut this strange and unusual teenager has been and will forever be a show to remember,” Faye said. “Not only did I love playing Lydia in Beetlejuice, but also getting to work with my amazing directors, Mrs. Mindy Whitesmith and Mr. Tyler Jensen, and the rest of the cast and crew. I wouldn’t have been able to step foot into this fun and challenging role if it weren’t for the support of my directors, cast and family, and for that, I’m so grateful for that opportunity.” 

There is no show without a director; Mrs. Mindy Whitesmith is one of the musical theater directors at NCP. Originally a teacher within the North Canton city school district, she began assisting and directing musicals in 2019. 

“Having so many students one on one is very rewarding because I am able to create personal relationships and really individualize my teaching to do my best to give each performer the tools they need to feel confident and successful,” she said. 

NCP will be hosting their annual “Curtain Up” fundraiser performance April 24-26, which will “honor many performers and performances from decades past.” In fact, this show was how Faye first became involved with NCP. 

“I became involved with the North Canton Playhouse during my sophomore year when I first started voice lessons with Mrs. Mindy Whitesmith,” Faye said. “She invited me to participate in their annual ‘Curtain Up’ fundraiser performance as a soloist where I also was involved in a few other numbers as well.” 

As performers dedicate much time to rehearsals, they ultimately spend a lot of time in the NCP. This allows for inspiration and individual growth to bloom. Mead spoke about the effect NCP has had on her. 

“The Playhouse inspires me to be more creative and bold, when becoming new characters the Playhouse creates a judgment free zone giving space for every person to try new ideas without the fear of being judged,” she said. “This taught me to go through life with less fear and anxiety of others’ opinions. It has also taught me to be more open, accepting and curious about other people’s perspectives and ideas.” 

With so much time spent at the NCP, students create special bonds. Paynter discussed how this is her favorite aspect of the theatre. 

“I love the sense of a true family-oriented theatre that Mary created,” she said. “Many friends and even some marriages have been born here! It’s like a second home to many of our members and adults and youth have made lasting friendships here. I love introducing the Arts especially to our youth, where they gain confidence in themselves that they can carry forward into whatever they do.” 

Faye discussed how NCP will help her in the future, even if she doesn’t pursue a theater related career. 

“I know that I will use what I’ve learned from the North Canton Playhouse in my future because no matter what career I end up settling in, I have learned how to be responsible, how to multitask and how to be a better person,” she said. “I know that when I become successful one day, I will have NCP to thank for helping me discover who I really am, and for giving me the courage and motivation to follow my dreams.” 

Whitesmith had some advice for those looking to become involved in the theater, but don’t know where to start. 

“For anyone looking to get involved in musical theater, your local community theater is a great place to start,” she said. “You’re never too young or too inexperienced to start and everyone no matter how many times they have been on the stage can continue to improve. Musical theater is created in the moment and what makes it so unique is that no matter how many times a show or number is performed it can never be exactly replicated. It happens in the moment and that’s what makes it truly artistic.”