Underestimating Your Potential to Leave a Legacy? | VictorSchueller.com

In the summer of 1995 I was performing in a musical.  I had just graduated from high school, and I was reflecting on how transformative the few years of performing in theatre had been for me.  My first audition for any type of theatrical performance came just four years earlier, yet in those four years, I performed in sixteen shows and experienced success in that and many other areas of the arts.

I reflected at how, if I had been given the opportunity earlier in life, my success may have even been beyond what I had experienced at that point in time.  Perhaps earlier exposure to the arts in a more formal fashion would have opened up avenues that were closed to me, simply because I didn’t grab the opportunity early enough.  Perhaps my development and growth in key performance areas would have been enhanced if I would have recognized I had artistic talents earlier.

The thought crossed my mind that perhaps it would be a good idea to consider bringing a community theatre organization to my home town.  It was a small town and theatre opportunities were scarce.  There was a small community theatre group that had existed for many years about ten miles away.  Actually, that’s where I had been given my first theatre opportunity four years earlier, but still, to ask parents to drive children ten miles one way several times a week is prohibitive in many cases.

I thought, “Why not offer theatre here, right in Random Lake?”  Thinking I may have been on to something, I called two very dear and close friends of mine who shared that same love of theatre, and whom I enjoyed performing with in the other community theatre group.  They agreed it would be a great idea, and so that was the start of what is now Lakeshore Productions, Inc. in the small community of Random Lake.

Don’t get me wrong.  If it weren’t for those two other wonderfully talented and committed young men, it never would have happened.  They took the bull by the horns and they ran with it.  They did much of the heavy lifting, and they really put everything they had into it.  I am forever indebted to Andy and Ryan for their efforts.  They are the ones who truly made it happen.

We also had strong support from key community members and businesses.  They were behind us, and they helped us through sponsorship or direct funding.  The Random Lake High School Booster Club was a financial backer as well as an “in” so that we were considered a “school” group, so that we had access to use the auditorium, which was located within the high school.  We also got buy in from the local hardware store, Doegnitz Hardware, and the local variety store, Burmesch Variety, to sell tickets for us in the early years.  Actually, every year I still call Doegnitz Hardware to buy my tickets!  I can’t even begin to name the number of other people and businesses who poured so much into that organization then and now.

Just last week, my family and I enjoyed the organization’s 18th production of The Music Man.  It was an awesome show.  Believe it or not, there are some people involved with that show who have been with the organization each of those years.  One particular fixture, Bob, made his theatre debut in the theatre organizations first show, and he has been in dozens of shows since with this and other theatre groups.

When I think of the literally thousands of people who have been positively impacted by this theatre organization, I can’t help but chuckle and shake my head in amazement at how one idea and a couple of phone calls turned into something so wonderful, and has influenced so many.  For those of you “Survivor” fans, our most “famous” performer for the theatre organization is Andrea Boehlke, who was on the television series twice, and can be found in several other places within the media now days.  While she is the most notable “alumnus” of the organization, there have been many who have pursued careers in the arts since those days with the group.  As a matter of fact, Joe, the director for the past three shows was one of our “munchkins” (as was Andrea) in our first performance, The Wizard of Oz, back in 1996.

Everyone has the potential to leave a legacy, and it can have small beginnings.  We all have the potential to make a difference in this world.  You’ll find that there are people who will go out of their way to help you and stand with you and take it to new levels if you allow for it to happen.

Is there a difference you want to make?  How can you make it happen?  The first step is just taking action.  The next is seeing where it takes you.  Brace yourself, because it can be a fun ride!  Leave your legacy!  It starts today!