My latest chat is with Susan Ellis Ridley of Chatsworth, Georgia. She’s been involved with Dalton Little Theatre for years and currently serving as President of the Board of Directors. She’s acted on stage in many productions, from drama to comedy and directed plays as well.
She talks with me about her role as President of the Board of Directors and who inspired her to be an actor.
Introducing Susan…
What do you love about your life right now?
Approaching my seventh decade of life, I love simply being alive! More than just living, it’s the privilege of being able to retire and pursue the Second Act of my life in areas that are important to me: family, politics, and community theatre. Having the luxury of time retirement affords is an excellent thing, plus sleeping in and slow mornings with a third cup of coffee is a nice way to start any day!
You’ve been involved at Dalton Little Theatre for years, from acting to directing, and serving on the Board of Directors as President. What do you love about DLT?
It is a respected and storied community theatre, and it provides the opportunity for anyone to get involved in live performances and explore their avocation in an open and inclusive group.
Can you share with me what your role is like as President of the Board at DLT? I know you’re involved behind the scenes, often before a play hits the stage, and on the nights of the performances, so that is just a couple of things you are a part of.
As President of the Board of Directors, you are responsible for setting a course for the overall operation of the theatre, working with your Board to set those goals, and working toward them in any given year of operation. All members of the Board of Directors are involved in the decisions made for the fiscal solvency of the Non-Profit organization, along with setting the policy/procedures that govern the conduct of all those involved with the ‘business’ of the theatre.
The President chairs the monthly Board Meetings and works with the Secretary to develop the agenda and conduct the meeting. Our Board of Directors at DLT is far more ‘hands-on’ than most in non-profit organizations. Our members are regular volunteers, not just the administrative body, as the President. This often means you are the ‘go-to’ person for anything, from purchasing concession supplies to painting the stage!
Besides being quite involved at DLT, you support other theatres and ones out of town and out of state. For anybody who is not involved in theatre or attends plays, what would you tell them about why they should get involved, whether it’s on stage or behind the scenes, or just attend a performance?
Should you be a performer at heart, it is obvious—there will be a play you would enjoy being cast in, come out and audition. If you have a vision to bring a specific story/play to life, take on the director/assistant director role. If you’re an artist who likes to draw, build, and create, there’s a need for you. Suppose you are a person who enjoys interior decorating. In that case, there are sets to be ‘dressed’. Those who enjoy building walls, platforms, and set exteriors need framing. If you are a person who is meticulous in keeping up with where things should be and returning them to that exact spot, you’d make a great stage manager to help keep actors’ props in place! If you enjoy watching a story unfold and don’t mind helping community actors learn their lines, you’d be a brilliant assistant director, keeping track of the rehearsal book. Like to create outfits that capture place and time? Wardrobe—dress those actors… There’s a place for anyone/everyone who enjoys being around creative-minded, generous people—cause we all know, “there’s no people like show people” as Ethel Merman sang!
I’ve seen you perform in many plays, from drama to comedy. Was there a particular actor or film that inspired you to act?
I’ve idolized many talented professionals in film and on stage through the years—a lot of my earliest favorites were television regulars. Particularly back in the days of ‘variety show’ television, the 60s and 70s…Carol Burnette and the comedic skits on her show were a definite inspiration. Kathleen Turner-who had a great range of comedy/adventure to dramatic roles was a favorite. Tremendous respect for Allison Janney—who has fabulous range. Meryl Streep—of course—who glides from deepest drama to hysterical comedy, though in no way would I imagine having even a thimble full of the abilities of these ladies—but they inspire me!
You’ve acted and directed at DLT. One of my favorite performances you were in was from the 2023-2024 season The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey written by Celeste Lecesne and directed by Judith Beasley and you played Ellen. You had a great New Jersey accent, and your performance was stellar. The entire cast was fantastic, and so was Judith’s directing. How did you prepare for this role? How hard was it for you to learn your lines and put them into action on stage?
Thank you. That was a favorite role. Ellen’s New Jersey accent was a lot of fun—because it was over the top (as the author wrote it to be.) I’ve always loved doing accents, to the chagrin of my family and friends…so any time a character requires that stretch—it’s a delight to me. Judith Beasley is an excellent director—she has a clear vision of
the play she’s working with but still gives her cast an opportunity to “find the person” in the role they’re playing. I always identify with characters who are mothers—being the mother of two sons myself. I suppose my rehearsal effort would be something in the “method acting” effort—I try to understand the feelings and experiences of any character and tap into those by equating them with any personal experience I might have had that was similar in any way.
Memorizing and learning lines gets harder with age, and I would not endanger a production by attempting to carry a lot of dialogue as a leading character without an abundance of time to work on lines!
Do you have a favorite play you’ve acted in?
It would be tough to choose between these two:
Steel Magnolias–M’Lynn Eatonton and The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelky–Ellen Hertle
You directed Love Letters during the 2022-2023 season, which was on stage during February 2023. I loved the performances! As a director, share with me the challenges and joys of directing.
I’ve been on the community theatre stage more than I have directing what is seen on it…but Love Letters is a sentimental favorite of mine…and I had a vision for sharing the A.R. Gurney classic to life again at DLT. The three couples who gave life to Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III on each of the three nights’ performances were spectacular. They each brought their own flavor to the compelling story of the two characters and I could see different aspects of the characters highlighted in the three different interpretations…I loved working with all three couples. As to the hardest part of directing? For me, it’s creating the set—coming to grips with the reality of what is possible versus what I may have as a vision—and trusting the audience to see/feel the setting without absolute detail in the set itself.
We all have experienced failure, and sometimes success follows it. It’s part of our journey in our life and we all can learn from it. Do you have a favorite failure?
I’ve experienced failures in various aspects of my life, as has anyone by this point. While I could not point to any of them as a “favorite” —I’ve learned some valuable life lessons from failure. Specifically, not having completed my college education. Though I did not ‘fail’ – I dropped out of college, married young (don’t regret that), but clearly acknowledge I would have been better served to have completed college. When my husband was disabled and could no longer operate his business, it would have provided much more opportunity for my family if I’d pursued the profession I’d originally been attending college to obtain. So favorite??? Wouldn’t choose that description—but lesson learned, and advice shared…yes.
If you could have a gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it, what message would you want to convey to millions? What would it say and why?
You only get one life—THIS IS NOT A DRESS REHEARSAL!
Pretty much self-explanatory, I think. It’s a fast ride from childhood to old age, don’t waste it.
Thank you for reading my interview with Susan. She’s a joy to talk with and fabulous on stage.
Check out the Dalton Little Theatre website here.