As the holiday season picks up, Journey is buzzing with preparations and excitement. We have fresh updates on the Manor Church renovations, winter classes opening soon, and shows filling our calendar. This month’s spotlight features a seasoned Journey parent who now brings her experience and heart for the program as one of our board members.
Renovations are underway at Manor Church! The current focus is installing dance floors with the help of an incredible group of volunteers. If you’d like to pitch in, you can sign up through the Fall Work Party online. Follow us on Facebook for behind-the-scenes updates as we transform this new space into something special.
Winter class registration opened earlier this month and spots are filling up fast. Vancouver classes are held on Monday and Tuesday evenings, and Battle Ground classes are on Wednesday afternoons and evenings. All the class listings and registration links are on our website.
Our spotlight this month shines on Sienna Langstaff—a longtime Journey parent who’s taken on many roles and poured her heart into the Journey community.
1. You’ve been part of Journey Theater in several roles over the years — as a parent, a staff member, and now a board member. How has your perspective on Journey’s mission grown or changed through those experiences?
If I can use the analogy of the stage, going from a parent to staff member to board member has been like getting to peek behind the curtain to see how the magic on stage is made. I have always been impressed with how passionate both staff and board members are about wanting to see students grow and thrive.
2. What first drew your family to Journey Theater, and what made you want to stay involved long-term?
My 13-year-old son, who was always interested in acting, was given the opportunity to go to one of the first summer camps that was in the Beaverton area. He was hooked and immediately auditioned and was cast in their second show. As a parent, I loved the fact that Journey was a Jesus centered organization and so not only would my children be getting theater arts training and experience, they were also being discipled in their faith. I also appreciated the mixed ages and the opportunity this provided for older students to mentor younger students.
3. Having seen Journey from so many angles, what do you think makes this community so special?
As a parent, I enjoyed being able to work on various committees but as a Show Coordinator, one of my favorite jobs was actually placing parents in those committees. It was like a giant puzzle that I sat with and prayed over. Many times I had the experience of assigning a parent a job that they really weren’t sure they could do but in the end, they grew in confidence and character all within community! Journey’s mission is not just to reach youth but it is to grow youth and their families and I saw that firsthand.
4. What excites you most about being part of the board at this stage in Journey’s story?
Looking for affordable performance spaces in Oregon was always really hard and took a lot of time. I am so excited to be on the board now when Journey is on the cusp of having a home! There are so many more things that Journey can do and offer when we are no longer beholden to the schedules of others.
5. What’s one favorite memory or production that still makes you smile when you think back on it?
One of Beaverton’s venues for many years was Alpenrose Dairy. They had a historic 100 year old theater that had a lot of quirks. One of them was the fact that it was near a working dairy so the smell of cows was sometimes overpowering! Another quirk was that back stage there was a 10 foot Jesus that was suspended in the rafters!
Our show season kicked off with Footloose this month with high energy and a talented cast. Audiences praised the powerhouse cast with their honest emotion, sharp comedy and “phenomenal” choreography and harmonies. Now the spotlight shifts to Narnia, currently in rehearsals and gearing up for performances next month. Grab your tickets now at our website.
If you love comedy, be sure to check out the free improv show at Manor Church! Join us for an entertaining night of laughs December 11th at 7pm.
Thank you to our volunteers, supporters, and staff for making Journey Theater possible! Follow us on Facebook for updates, register for winter classes, and grab your tickets for Narnia or our free improv show. Here’s to another season of stories, creativity, and fun!