🎭 CSJ Newsletter – October 2025
A Letter from Jaime Lawrence, Editor
If you’ve ever been part of a theatre production, you know it takes a village. This fall, I’ve had the honor of helping co-produce The Full Monty alongside Talon Baldwin, directed by Charles Packard. By the time you read this, we’ll have celebrated our opening weekend – and we can’t wait to welcome you back for our final weekend of performances, October 10-12 at Jackson College’s Baughman Theatre in the Potter Center (Friday & Saturday at 7pm, Sunday at 3pm). Tickets are still available both online and at the door.
For those unfamiliar, The Full Monty is a hilarious and heartfelt story about a group of ordinary men who, facing hard times, discover extraordinary courage (and plenty of laughs) by daring to bare it all. But what really shines is the reminder that theatre brings strangers together and turns them into family.
That’s exactly what this production has been: a community. From our talented pit orchestra under the direction of Scott Moilanen, to the Jackson College and Music Notes Jackson friends who jumped in to cover tech, to the photographers, local news outlets, and volunteers who gave their time – we see you, and we thank you. None of this happens without the stage managers, tech directors, sound and lighting teams, local printers like Printer Source Plus, and so many others working behind the scenes.
As anyone in theatre knows, “hell week” is real – we’ve rehearsed late into the nights, laughed through exhaustion, and worked through sound, lights, costumes (or lack thereof in this show’s case!). And through it all, we’ve had fun, we’ve grown as a team, and we are ready to share this production with you, our community. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t say a huge thank you to our cast of actors – they are so talented and so flexible and have been absolutely amazing to work with!
Thank you for showing up, for cheering us on, and for reminding us why community theatre matters.
Jaime Lawrence
🎭 October Member Spotlight: Wendy Lake
From board member to stage manager to performer – and now CSJ’s Administrative Assistant – Wendy Lake has just about done it all. Her favorite memories, hidden talents, and the heart she brings behind the scenes remind us why she’s such a vital part of the CSJ family.
👉 [Read Wendy’s full spotlight here]
🎟️ The Full Monty: Final Weekend!
📅 October 10–12
📍 Baughman Theatre, Potter Center (Jackson College)
🕖 Friday & Saturday at 7pm, Sunday at 3pm
A bold, funny, and moving story about friendship, courage, and going “the full monty.” Don’t miss your chance to see it live!
📺 Watch the interviews:
Youth Theatre Production of Young Sherlock
The mystery unfolds soon – mark your calendars and come support our young actors!
📅 November 14-16
📍 Jackson First Presbyterian Church
Featuring 24 incredible local kids from across Jackson County, Young Sherlock brings sleuths, suspects, and plenty of surprises to the stage.
Young Sherlock follows a teenage Sherlock Holmes and his friend John Watson as they take on their very first case, unraveling a mystery filled with twists, suspects, and surprises. Full of wit, adventure, and clever deductions, it’s a fast-paced story that shows how the world’s greatest detective got his start.
🔎 Case Closed: This cast is guilty… of being brilliant!
🥎 Thank You, CSJ Softball Team!
This fall, CSJ sponsored a Softball Team who brought the spirit of theatre out to the ballfield. They partnered with us to proudly represent Center Stage, all while having fun, staying active, and connecting with the community. Thank you to our players for showing off CSJ in such a unique way – you made us proud both on and off the field! Because whether on stage or at the plate, CSJ knows how to put on a show.
🎬 Call for Directors
Center Stage Jackson is still seeking directors for two exciting 2026 productions:
✨ The Play That Goes Wrong (February 2026)
✨ Spring Cabaret (April 2026 at Sandhill Crane Vineyards) – where YOU get to propose the theme and vision!
Interested? Email admin@centerstagejackson.org to request an application or complete it directly here: APPLICATION LINK
📅 Save the Date: CSJ Annual Meeting
Our next CSJ Board Meeting is Wednesday, October 8 at 6:30pm (Jackson College). All members are welcome to attend.
Looking ahead – our December Annual Meeting is coming soon. If you’re interested in joining the CSJ Board of Directors, now is the time to start the conversation! More information to come!
🎭 2026 Season
