“I just wanted to do something scary for a change,” is how Denise Moore described her decision to try acting.

“I didn’t want to skydive,” Moore said. “I wanted something scary, but safe.”

Moore, who is the office manager at Crowder Industries in Neosho, has never performed on a stage in her life—not even in high school. But, upon reading a small item in a newspaper that announced tryouts for a play at Stone’s Throw Theater in Carthage, she decided to give it a try.

Mustering up the courage she needed, Moore went to the tryouts and read for the role of the schoolteacher in the holiday production, “The Christmas Story.” This modern classic is the tale of “Ralphie,” a boy who wants a BB gun for Christmas.

“I think there were seven of us who tried out for the role of the schoolteacher,” Moore remembered. “I kept telling myself the worst I could do was forget my lines.”

She didn’t forget her lines, but she felt she wouldn’t get the part.

“The people we read for gave no hint at all,” Moore said. “I really didn’t think I would get the role so I was really shocked when they called to say I had won the part.”

Almost immediately, Moore started learning her lines and going to rehearsals. Since this was her first time for such a venture, she had a lot to learn.

“People were nice and helpful,” she remarked. “Now that I’ve been with them for a while, rehearsals have gotten to be fun. I’ve gotten used to everything.

Being in the production has been a learning experience in other ways. Watching the work of the sound and lighting technicians, the wardrobe people and the set decorators has been interesting to Moore. Learning the lines was not difficult for Moore, who appears in five scenes in the play. One thing that did take some practice was learning to “cackle.”

“In one scene I have to cackle and sound like the witch in the Wizard of Oz,” she laughed.

Just two days before opening night, Moore was eager to get the show on the road.
“I know I’ll be nervous,” she said. “But those who have done it before tell me they are nervous every time until they get on stage.”

Naturally, members of Moore’s family, and some of her friends and co-workers are planning to attend to cheer her on.

“I’ve told everyone not to tell me what night they’re going. I don’t want to know,” she said. “When I come out to take a bow with the other cast members, then I’ll look in the audience and see the faces.”

Pondering what the eight nights on stage will be like, Moore still wonders why she did it (audition).

“I just hope I don’t fall down on stage,” she laughed. “But, if it goes well I might try it again. I think being in the theater could be lots of fun as a hobby.”

Asked if she was truly ready for this, she laughed again, “Oh yes, I have that cackle down pat.”