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SLAVA KOKOTOVICH
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Residents at the Romeo Nursing Center help put together a quilt made of shirts displaying the Romeo Theatre Company's productions from the past 21 years. From left, Jean Schocke, Dorothy Vitale, student director Alana Stultz, choir director Jeff Hinkle, theatre teacher/director Kendra Walls, Elizabeth DeVlaminck and Margaret Barrett.

(Observer photo by Chris Gray)

Years of theater yields
quilt made of T-shirts

Quilt took year to complete
for four at Romeo Nursing Home

by CHRIS GRAY
Observer Staff Writer

      Even with her acting background, the grin on Romeo High School drama and theater teacher Kendra Walls' face was nothing but genuine as she looked over the colorful quilt.
       "You guys are just amazing to get this done for us," she told four elderly women. "This is beautiful."
       After a year of work, residents at the Romeo Nursing Center presented Romeo Theatre Company members with a special quilt on Oct. 30, made from shirts featuring the different productions they've done over the past 21 years.
       "It's exciting, it's a huge present to the company, and it's neat to see all of our accomplishments," she said.
       The theater teacher and director said she has collected T-shirts since she began 21 years ago in the district. Each shirt, made for the cast and crew of the shows each year, display that year's production title.
       "I've been holding onto these forever," she said.
       Corrine Stultz, a worker at the nursing center and mother of student director Alana, asked if Walls had any projects the center's sewers could do, so Walls happily turned the shirts over to them.
       "I told them I don't care how long it takes, you have all the time in the world, have fun with it," Walls said.
       The quilters included Jean Schocke, Margaret Barrett, Elizabeth DeVlaminck, Dorothy Vitale, Isabelle Hardy and Ken Rugh. Quilter Willie Pfeiffer, with the assistance of Sophie Zeiter, did the actual quilting.
       Pfeiffer has put together other quilts in the community, such as for Relay for Life.
       Walls has already picked out a spot to hang it in the David L. Olsen auditorium's lobby, and plans on displaying it for the upcoming "Alice in Wonderland" show and for subsequent productions.
       "Now it's kind of cool because this is going to start a tradition because every shirt is going to be made into a block," she said.
       The quilt is a visible display of the company's history and evolution. The theater company is mostly self-sufficient, with the district providing funds for Walls' check, the use of the auditorium and the lights.
       Ticket and intermission sales, ad space in programs and name plates for theater seats help pay the rest of the expenses, such as for costumes and make-up.
       "They don't have to pay referees, they don't have to pay buses, we don't travel and if we do we pay for it," she said.
       Though budget cuts may threaten the number of future productions held per school year, the company still plans on holding its fall production, a dinner theater in the winter and a musical in the spring, the latter of which receives help from choir teacher Jeff Hinkle.
       The most important aspect of the company, though, is the students. Walls said there are heartbreaks and "soap operas," but all the students support one another.
       "Do I think the kids have changed in the past 21 years, yes. Do I think the way that the theater company kids take care of each other has changed, no," she said. "They may not be friends in the hallway, but they sure take care of each other here."
       Her sentiments are equally returned by the students, such as some of the leads in the upcoming November show.
       "She is our second mommy, she really is," said sophomore Megan Stys. "Even with out-of-school problems she is there for us."
       "Sometimes we disagree with the cast list, but in the end it all comes together, she is a genius," said junior Hannah Korell.
       "I think Ms. Walls is amazing," said senior Gary Bosheers. "She is hilarious, she knows what she's talking about."