by Marcy Bates
I love musical theatre! The costumes, the sets, the voices—all of it cuts right to my heart. Seeing it live on stage, with music and lights, somehow makes the story more alive. As a child of the 1970s and 1980s I grew up on movie musicals. My cousins and I would sing and dance to Annie, Grease, Footloose, Blues Brothers and so much more. In elementary school, my favorite field trip was going to the theater. When I grew up and became a teacher, I always made sure to take my students to see shows. Then as a mom, I wanted to expose my kid to this world, too.
One of the first shows I took my kids to was a local production of Once Upon a Mattress. A twist on a fairy tale, it is accessible to all ages. The antics of Princess Winnifred enthralled them. The music was catchy, the costumes appropriately royal. I loved that the stereotypes were thrown out—this princess doesn’t need rescuing. She lives life on her terms, deliberately and proudly forging her own path and breaking free from expectations. What’s not to love? Our family was hooked. That show was part of the beginning of our love for community theatre. That’s why I was so excited when SBMT announced it as the first show of our next season.
Over the last 20 years, we have seen so many performances—from student productions to local community theatre to Broadway. And the magic never dims. When the lights go down, my heart starts racing. For a couple hours, I am transported into another story. I laugh and cry and learn more about people and places. As we have gotten to know some of the actors, the stories become even more meaningful. And I am in awe of their talent.
My love of musicals is why I began volunteering with South Bay Musical Theatre. I can’t sing or dance, but I can still be involved in working behind the scenes. From ushering, to setting up the opening night reception, to greeting people when they come to auditions, I love being able to give back. I want to help others experience these amazing productions. And now, as an SBMT Board member, I lead the Community Outreach team, as we work to bring new people into our theatre world. Musical theatre is for everyone!
—Marcy Bates,
SBMT Board of Directors
Community Outreach Chair
The opening night post-show reception—shown here from September 2025 for The Sound of Music—is one of the many ways that Board member Marcy Bates has gotten involved with South Bay Musical Theatre as a volunteer.
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