Good Neighbor Podcast: Rochester
Bringing Together Local Businesses and Neighbors of Rochester
Good Neighbor Podcast: Rochester
EP#132: Oxford Wildcat Theater with Adam Silorey
From aspiring pre-med student to a Disney World performer, Adam Silory's unexpected path to founding the Oxford Wildcat Theatre Company in Michigan is nothing short of inspiring. Join us as Adam uncovers how a single audition transformed his career trajectory, leading him to create a vibrant nonprofit theater that brings professional productions to his hometown. Learn how Disney's high standards influence Adam's dedication to excellence in theater and hear his insights on building a supportive and inclusive community. You'll also get a peek into Adam's creative side beyond the stage, where he stays busy with DIY projects and sewing.
Whether you're an aspiring actor, a theater enthusiast, or someone who loves being part of a community project, there’s a role for you at OWPTC. Explore the variety of involvement opportunities Adam discusses, from auditions to box office roles and teaching positions in their exciting mini-class series. Adam also touches on the importance of strong leadership, highlighting the need for a treasurer on the OWPTC board. This episode is brimming with passion and practical advice for anyone interested in the theater world, and we’re thrilled to have Adam share his journey and vision with us on the Good Neighbor Podcast.
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Lisa Swiftney.
Speaker 2:Hi everyone and welcome to episode number 132 of the Good Neighbor Podcast. I'm excited. Today we have with us Adam Slory with the Oxford Wildcat Theatre Company. How are you doing today, adam?
Speaker 3:I'm great. Thanks, Lisa. I appreciate you having me on here today.
Speaker 2:Oh well, thank you for being a guest. Let's first start off by telling our audience a little bit about the theatre.
Speaker 3:Sure. So the Oxford Wildcat Professional Theatre Company, or, as we like to call it, the OWPTC. We are a new nonprofit theater company that is located in Oxford, michigan, and what's different, what's unique about us, is we do three different stages at the OWPTC. We have the, which is our educational theater. We have our lab shows, which is like our community theater piece, and then we have our professional stage shows. So we have three different stages. It's an exciting time to be Wildcat, that's for sure.
Speaker 2:Oh great. Tell our listeners about your journey. How did you get started?
Speaker 3:Yeah, so I was born and raised in Oxford, michigan.
Speaker 3:So I was born and raised in Oxford, michigan and I went to Cedarville University for my first year of college and I was a pre-med bio student and it didn't take long for me to realize that is not what I was cut out for, and I saw auditions for Disney World on Facebook when I was when I was studying for an exam studying on Facebook and so I flew down to Orlando, got hired at Disney and that started my acting career.
Speaker 3:From there I went back and got my BA in theater performance and then my MFA in acting, and then was a professional stage actor for about 10 years before deciding that living out of my suitcase was not cute as a 30-year-old, and so I moved back to my hometown looking for something to do in the arts. I still wanted to use my degree and my passion for storytelling, but there were a ton of options for a professional to make a living doing, and so I thought what the heck? I posted on Facebook in an Oxford community group. I said who would be interested in a professional theater company in Oxford, and I got over 132 responses, and so in May I got my articles of incorporation, and since then we've already produced three different shows. So it's been awesome.
Speaker 2:How amazing. So how was, how was working at Disney world? That had to be exciting.
Speaker 3:That, honestly, I'm so thankful for my time at Disney. They're like their level of excellence is unmatched, and so that is something that I've always had. It was ingrained in me. That was one of my first jobs too, and so from then on, they set the standard for me, which has been great. Taking to OWPTC. We're a professional theater company. We have a standard of excellence, but excellence for us looks like encouraging people to be their personal best, you know.
Speaker 2:That's good. Can you tell us about any myths or misconceptions that you hear about in your industry?
Speaker 3:Sure, I hear that theater people are dramatic and that's true. That's not a myth, um, but we're the most accepting group of people because we understand we have to take a character that we're given and we have to see the world through a different set of lenses with every new role, and so I feel like we have a better understanding of, maybe, struggles that people go through, even if we haven't had them ourselves. And that is something that was really important to me about OWPTC is that we foster an environment where everyone feels supported and loved and celebrated for their uniqueness uniqueness and ingenuity, there we go and so that is the myth that we're dramatic and mean and the industry is hard to break into it.
Speaker 3:That's not. It doesn't have to be that, and so we're going to start here in Oxford, michigan.
Speaker 2:So oh, that is amazing. So when you're not working at the theater or working to grow the theater, what do you like to do for fun?
Speaker 3:a crafty person and so if I'm not, if I'm not working for the theater company, I am usually like with either building something, DIY projects or sewing something I really love sewing, and so I just stay busy. Busy hands, you know, stay, you, stay out of trouble with busy hands. They say no that is true.
Speaker 2:That is true If you're doing some of your hand and staying busy, you're staying out of trouble.
Speaker 3:Right.
Speaker 2:So can you describe one hardship or life challenge born into privilege here in Oxford, and so my struggles?
Speaker 3:look like completely different than than anybody else's, you know everyone's struggles are different and you know, for me I think it was breaking out of that mindset of the world is perfect and the world is this bubble that we, that we that we feel is oxford, michigan, you know, and I think as a community we felt that four years, four years ago, three years ago, we felt that as a community and for the first time I'll never forget I didn't feel safe in the world when I, when I and I wasn't even there, you know, I was just a place that I knew you know, something so tragic happened, and so that that was eye-opening.
Speaker 3:But for me, uh, it took okay. Okay, people like the world is hard, the world is not fair, and like, like you're, you're gonna be challenged for, for what you believe and what you think it's, and and so just moving to disney, really did that me. It gave me a point of view, it gave me a reason to have a set of beliefs and reasoning behind it, and so I would say that that was the biggest thing that shaped me, who I am today, and it's also made me a better actor, because I've really had to stop and look at the world around me, wherever I am, be thankful for it, see the beauty, see the hardship, but remember that everyone's struggle is different. That's true, see the beauty, see the hardship, but remember that everyone's everyone's struggles different.
Speaker 2:So that's true. So so far in your acting career, what is the best role that you've had?
Speaker 3:Oh, one of the last roles I played was Arthur Fonzarelli in happy days of the musical, and that was. That was a blast.
Speaker 2:It sounds like a blast. Hey, yeah was a blast. It sounds like a blast. Hey, yeah, that is good. So, and then? What did?
Speaker 3:what would you say would be the worst role that you had? Oh man, I wouldn't say worst, say most challenging.
Speaker 3:Most challenging role for sure. I did a show called Rescue Mission Saving Sasquatch. That was at a theme park in northern Idaho and it was a train show. It was about a 45 minute show where people were taking on this like tour through the, through the wilderness, and then Poacher P is who I played, stopped the train and held him up and then and there's a big fight sequence and these girls, they beat up Poacher P and then the train ride home. We're in in character the whole time, you know, putting on the show. I did that show almost a thousand times so that was like. The most challenging thing was like remembering that these kids on this train have not seen this before and Poacher Pete cannot be over it today. Right, yeah.
Speaker 2:Oh, that is fun. What is one thing you wish our listeners knew about your business?
Speaker 3:Yes, I wish that people knew our mission. That's the one thing. We are a professional theater company, but we're so much more. Our very foundation is on this principle of building self-esteem and positive self-thoughts within the youth, you know, giving them the opportunity to not only see professional theater, if they, if they, want to pursue that for themselves, but also the chance to act beside them, beside professionals in the field.
Speaker 3:I don't know like what that would have done for me. I'm very, very happy with, with my life and the experiences that have led me to this point, but what would have happened if there would have been a professional theater company where I got to act next to a professional to see that, oh, he's a professional actor and he's not starving, he's not, you know, he's making a living and doing what he loves. I don't know what that would have done for me. And so our mission is really to instill at a very young age in our EDU program that, well, first of all, you're worth it and you matter and you, you're, you're someone when you come in here. But also, if this is what you want to do, do it, we'll give you the tools. And so it's all based on mentorship here at owptc and inclusion and acceptance, and that's that's who we are and that's who I want people to to start seeing that what I want people to start seeing us as wow, that is.
Speaker 2:That is great, and I love your mission, so thank you for sharing that with us today. Our listeners are now intrigued. They want to learn more, so how can they contact you and get involved?
Speaker 3:Sure, oh, we have. We have room for everybody and we couldn't do it without the community. So we need all the help and you can get involved just at OWPTCorg.
Speaker 1:There's a tab there that says volunteer.
Speaker 3:We have auditions, we have the shows that need box office attendance, bartenders. We have spots for educational counselors. I know we just launched a five mini class series that I know I'm going to need some teachers, teacher assistance I know the other teacher is as well and we also have board member positions that are open where we're looking for a treasurer. So there's a lot of ways to get involved for sure.
Speaker 2:How amazing. Well, I hope that this gets out and people will hear and you'll get a few more board members and to help you with your mission. So, adam, thank you for your time today and being a guest on our Good Neighbor podcast.
Speaker 3:Well, thank you, Lisa. I appreciate the time.
Speaker 1:Thanks for listening to the Good Neighbor podcast, rochester. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnprochestercom. That's gnprochestercom, or call 248-988-9640.