Interview with Our “Theatre Hero” Award Recipient Raelene Liljeberg - June 2024
Getting to Know Raelene…
Raelene has been a member since 1967 when Judy Bausha, a friend from church, asked her to help sew costumes on Guys and Dolls. Penny Tamulonis was the lead person in costumes. Raelene was happily there to help her. Then, when Penny was no longer able to be the costumer due to failing health, Raelene naturally stepped into the role and has been the “thread” that ties the department together over the last 50+ years, accepting costume donations to the inventory and renting costumes to various theatre groups, schools and other organizations, some as far away as Florida.
Remembering Back When…
Al Tamulonis started the Actorsingers. His idea was to start a family-oriented theater group for kids which was called the Junior Actorsingers. Over time, more and more people became involved and the adults wanted to be onstage as well. So, the adult Actorsingers evolved. To start, this continued to be a project based at the Church of the Good Shepherd. All rehearsals were there. Then, Actorsingers began rehearsing at Fairgrounds Middle School as well, and eventually Actorsingers went to the High School (which later became Elm Street Middle School).
When it became clear that the group needed a permanent home, Frank Harvey, who was with the bank, was able get good financing to buy the building. Raelene was on the Board then and explained that there were some very contentious meetings about making such a commitment. These meetings would go to as late as midnight. Raelene was the recording secretary at that time and added how she would be taking notes late into the night. There was much more land in the original package, which became a negotiating point with the city, because they wanted to build a fire station. Then Actorsingers finally was able to buy the school from the city, splitting off part of the land. As a part of that agreement, the fire department and the Actorsingers can park in each other’s parking lots, if needed.
Cherishing our Firehouse Friends…
Raelene wants us to continue to remember and nurture our friendship with the Fire Department. Once, we had a leak in the basement and we went next door for help, and instead of one or two of the fire crew coming over to look, the entire firehouse came in full gear, vacuumed up the water and located the leak. The next day, we gratefully brought over several large pizzas as a “thank you”.
Thoughts on Peoples’ Commitment to the Group….
At the beginning, you had to work on every single show, excluding children’s shows, for fifteen years, to become a Life Member. There could be no lapse in participation. None. If you missed a show, you had to start all over again. Raelene wonders how difficult that would be to accomplish today, the way we live our lives between work, often relocating, and family.
About Costumes…
Originally, Actorsingers had no one place to keep costumes and so Actorsingers rented. “We just didn’t have the inventory and it was easy and inexpensive to rent. Actorsingers rented from Hooker & Howe and they would send the entire show in big wicker baskets, and we would send the costumes back in those same wicker baskets.
As we began to acquire costumes, everything was in cardboard boxes at various people’s homes in garages, sheds, attics, basements for years. Then, there was Harry Makris’ barn - like John McAllister’s, but just off of Lake Street, so it was close. We used to have to climb up a ladder into the nether-reaches of the barn, pick out the costumes, and literally throw them out the upstairs front loading doorway of the barn into someone’s car or onto the ground.”
When the Actorsingers finally had a permanent home, Penny was instrumental in creating the design for the costume shop. The costume shop was a single classroom. Penny designed and Lou Duhamel built her design for shelves, hanging racks, and drawers, which remains today.
What Raelene Enjoys the Most…
“My favorite was Show Boat and I assisted Penny with costumes. That show covers 3-4 time periods so it was such a challenge, but so interesting and so much fun. I also love Mame. We made all of the costumes for each show at that point. We’d go out and buy all the material and sew everything. I wish we did more of the traditional shows still. The newer shows do not interest me. Most everything you can pick out of your own closet and wear it onstage. I love what I call ‘costume-y shows’ - shows that require finding or building challenging period costumes.”
Members’ Dedication to the Actorsingers…
For the 50th year celebration, some former members and Life Members came from as far as California to join in the fun. It took over a year to plan. The Actorsingers held it at the Crowne Plaza with a DJ. Many people stayed overnight at the Hotel. It was great, great fun. And wouldn’t you know it … there was a blizzard that night, but everyone still came.
Raelene has remained with the group through the years not only because she loves costuming, but because she made really good friends here. She met her husband doing Guys and Dolls. She and her husband were both deeply involved for many, many years together. Many couples came together through the group. She truly loves and treasures the memory of her involvement in the organization, and the building and maintaining of the costume collection.
Closing Thoughts...
She wants to be remembered as someone who has given a lot to the organization over the years both in costumes and on the Board, and, of course, being a part of so many, many productions.
Her words of advice. “Don’t think that you are better than you are.” We are an amateur community theatre group with exceptional talent, on and off stage. Have fun, relax, and enjoy the friendships and time spent giving back to the community.
The Actorsingers is lucky to have this year’s “Theatre Hero” Raelene, as well as many other members and past members who put us on the path to where we are today. These longtime members gave those of us who love being involved in theatre a place to go, and friendships to make and enjoy.
