We recently had the delight of sitting down to interview Crystal Campbell, a longtime educator, supporter of child and family development in the tri-county community, and member of the Board of Trustees for Charleston Stage. Hear about her beginnings with us and dreams for the growth of our theatre beyond the walls of the Dock Street.
Please share the beginning of your involvement with Charleston Stage.
I am a longtime educator and in retirement currently serving as the Executive Director of First Steps in Dorchester County, a non-profit organization supported by the state to ensure that young children are prepared for school success at age 5. Teaching has always been one of my passions, and Charleston Stage’s commitment to education is something that has always resonated with me.
I started with Charleston Stage (Young Children’s Stage Company at that time) in the 1980s–before the company was even a decade old. I was teaching 5th grade out at Sullivan’s Island Elementary School when a colleague of mine, Jean Glave, who was active in the theatre told me she thought I’d be very interested in it. She took me to the old Memminger Elementary School, where Julian Wiles (Founder and Producing Artistic Director) was hosting auditions for roles in his play, The Country Bunny.
Julian had everyone line up to do cold readings. As I was reading the part of the Country Bunny, I messed up my lines–I think I got that part because I did, though! It was a wonderful production and I had a fabulous time. Since then, I’ve been hooked! Julian was gracious to let me teach at the TheatreSchool and offer me parts in several performances: Huckleberry Finn, A Woman Called Truth, and To Kill a Mockingbird, among others. Julian challenged me in such a powerful way–I remember in Huckleberry Finn he wanted me to play a woman in her 80s without using any aging stage makeup! I could not wear my glasses either. To rehearse the character, I observed the older women at my church and took mental notes. It was fun being so creative to prepare for each show I did with Charleston Stage.
What made you want to join us as a board member?
Becoming a board member was an answer to a prayer. In the beginning days of Charleston Stage, something Julian really strived for was to make it easy for children to come see theatre performances, so we offered (and still do!) weekday school matinees. My principal, Fleming Harris, supported me by allowing me to have leave time to do the matinee performances. Back then, Charleston County’s Superintendent allowed teachers to perform and to bring the students on field trips to the theatre. This was how I was able to perform in school matinees without compromising my teaching position at Sullivan’s Island Elementary. This was a major feat because no other theatre was trying to involve children as much, and it offered me so much joy to feel supported by Charleston Stage and my school. It was amazing having my students come see shows I was in.
Then life happened. I moved to Columbia for a while and got more busy, but I still loved theatre. When I moved back to Charleston I knew I wanted to get back involved in it.
A few years ago I was talking to God when I looked in the mirror and said, “It ain’t over for me yet. I know I’m older, but I can still do this. I’d love to be in a performance again. I just want to be in theatre.” And that was just my simple prayer. Fast forward a week: I got a call from Julian, and before he could even finish I said yes to being on the board and getting involved again! It all feels really full circle.
What do you hope to see accomplished in Charleston Stage that you can help bring to fruition as a Board Member?
I know that there are so many children in our community that Charleston Stage hasn’t even gotten to touch yet–families who’ve never been to a performance. I’ve taken on as much as I can to make that happen.
One of the first things I did when I became a Board Trustee was connect Julian with First Steps, of which I am the Executive Director of in Dorchester County, and Tri-County PLAY Collaborative. Our sole purpose, in First Steps, is to help families with children 0-5 prepare for school success, and we created Tri-County PLAY in order to help families participate in cultural events within the community at little or no cost. We look at the entire family–not just helping them with childcare or purchasing school supplies, but also help them improve their status in life.
Naturally, Charleston Stage’s CityStage program is huge for me. Ashley Palmer, our Production Manager, and Marybeth Clark, our Artistic Director Designee, have worked with some of our Resident Actors to host a theatre education program for First Steps, which is such a delight to me! When CityStage performed Treasure Island in St. George this spring, it was huge, because it’s a good hour away from downtown and many families can’t get to the Dock. The CityStage program allows us to, at a lower cost, invite families to the theatre and help provide transportation so that they can enjoy the cultural things happening in our community.
Why is exposure to the arts integral to childhood development and the family unit?
It’s the number one thing for children ages birth to five years old. Academics are enhanced when children can learn through drama, music, and dance. I often tell the parents and educators I work with that we need a foundation to teach children their ABCs–their brains need opportunities to absorb everything. I don’t know a single child who doesn’t like jumping around, flipping, and dancing! Our job is to provide a safe environment for that all to happen in. If we want communities where people are thriving, then we have to have the arts in them–and I think drama is perhaps the best method because all you need is your body and voice to make all kinds of characters come to life–it’s the most accessible form of art.
Finally, what is your favorite show of all time?
To Kill a Mockingbird. Playing Calpurnia was just–ooh! It was perfect. I can still see myself in the green room peeking out as the busses of kids pulled up to the theatre–looking out for my own students who would see me in the shows.
As a kid my voice was always “too loud,” I’d get in trouble at home and get kicked out of the library at Fort Johnson High School! But back in the day when we didn’t have microphones on stage, some people told me that my voice was the only one they could hear. It was so nice to have my voice celebrated in the theatre–I finally felt that my voice was an asset.
