Community Music Therapy and Community Theatre Intersect (Part 3)
When I first wrote about the intersection of community music therapy and community theatre, my daughters and I were tumbling around the magical world of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Fast-forward a couple of years, and my family has taken a slightly different turn on stage…
This time, my husband, my oldest daughter Madelyn, and I are all in The Full Monty with Center Stage Jackson. Yes… that Full Monty. The one where six down-on-their-luck men decide to form a strip act. Not exactly the kind of show you’d expect from someone who spends most of her time promoting early childhood music programs, singing about bubbles, and creating safe spaces for families to make music together.
And yet - this is also me.
Owning the “Adult” Side of Music
It can feel a little tricky to publicly promote an 18+ musical when much of my professional identity is tied to music therapy, children’s programming, and family concerts. But the truth is, I’ve always had one foot in adult-centered performance.
Anyone remember Chinatown Bus at the Bon Ton Room back in 2009? Probably the most outrageous thing I’ve ever sung. Or the cabaret project “7,” which explored the seven deadly sins in song? I love edgy, bold material. It’s fun. It’s freeing. It’s part of the whole picture of who I am as a musician.
This show is not about kids. It’s about parents. Adults. People navigating life, relationships, vulnerability, and humor. And honestly? I’m having the time of my life producing, performing, and being part of this world.
Family On Stage, Community Off Stage
The Full Monty is a special one for us because it’s the first time my husband and I have done a show together. He’s not one of the six main men, but even he’s getting pulled into the inside jokes, the late-night laughter, and the camaraderie that happens when a group of people set out to build something bigger than themselves.
Madelyn is also in the cast, playing Nathan, the son of the main character. With her short hair and natural spunk, she jumped at the chance to take on this gender-bent role - and she’s knocking it out of the park. (We just won’t be inviting her elementary-school friends… because again- 18+ only!)
Every time you do a show, strangers become family. Theatre is one of the best examples of community music therapy in action: people connecting, laughing, supporting one another, and creating something together that none of us could pull off alone.
Playing Vicki: A Role I Know Well
On stage, I’m playing Vicki, the loyal (and sometimes long-suffering) wife of Harold. She’s spirited, supportive, and - like all the women in this show - full of life. It’s been a blast stepping into her shoes, bantering with the other ladies, and finding ways to lean into the humor and humanity of the role.
Pretending I’m at a strip club with my girlfriends in the 90s? Sure, why not. (Okay, technically I was still in high school in the 90s - but I may or may not have had a few similar adventures in the early 2000s… back when there were no cell phones to capture every moment of shenanigans and occasional debauchery.)
Why This Matters in Jackson
At the heart of it all, what keeps me coming back to community theatre is the same thing that fuels my passion for music therapy: connection.
When a group of people gathers to tell a story - whether it’s children singing in circle time, seniors making music in a care facility, or a ragtag bunch of Jackson performers working their way through The Full Monty - we are building community. We are practicing empathy. We are celebrating the power of music to break down walls and bring us together.
We are each here to make everyone else on stage look cool!
That’s community music therapy. And that’s community theatre.
And when the two intersect, something pretty magical happens.
👉 The Full Monty runs October 3-5 and 10-12, 2025 at the Potter Center in Jackson. Adults only, but if you’re looking for a night out that will make you laugh, think, and maybe even tear up a little, this is the one.
