A Place For Hope: Theatre With A Cause

Darkness. Devastation. Heart wrenching words Jan Williams uses to describe receiving the diagnosis of cancer. Astonishingly enough, this is a story of hope.

January 1, 2014 Jan Williams bubbly, talented, loving wife and mother of six, underwent emergency surgery resulting in the diagnosis of cancer.

“Receiving my third diagnosis of cancer was the absolute lowest point in my life. I have never been more scared, or sure about the possibility of death. This could be the one that takes me.”

After fighting melanoma cancer twice and winning, Jan’s nightmare began again. Her cancer had returned. This time with a vengeance. Stage 3 ovarian cancer that to Jan, a vivacious, slightly over dramatic (in a good way), energetic, raven long-haired beauty, was a death sentence.

Jan underwent 6 months of strenuous chemotherapy. One bitter winter night in midst of her treatments, a knock came at her door. Jan opened it to reveal a large group of her past acting students, their parents, and many of her close friends singing “For Good” from the musical Wicked.

“I can’t begin to describe how that made me feel. I literally couldn’t speak. It was freezing outside and yet I was completely warm. The only thing I can compare it to is having your first baby placed in your arms. It’s life changing. This moment was definitely a major turning point for me.”

Changed for the better, this moment would be Jan’s catalyst for change. Her spirits lifted and she began to journal. Late at night, when she couldn’t sleep, she would write. She wrote about everything, her dreams, thoughts, emotions, hopes, memories, anything that helped her draw meaning from this terrible experience. Jan began to think about how she could give back to her beloved community. During a particularly difficult treatment Jan had a magnificent idea. A powerful idea that would blossom into something instrumental in changing so many lives. Her idea, to open a non-profit theater that would donate proceeds to someone in the community fighting cancer. Its name, the HopeBox Theatre.

“Cancer took everything from me, accept my hope. I hoped I would live. I hoped I could keep down my lunch. I hoped I would live to see my daughter get married. Everything else was confusing. My faith was tested, my energy gone, my work gone, and yet I clung to hope. I knew instantly I wanted to open a theatre. I knew if I didn’t do it now, I might never do it,” and so Jan, along with her partners Derek Raynor and Curtis Dalton, they got to work. The trio fell in love with an obscure white building on a frontage road in Kaysville, Utah. A former non-denominational church with a small black box style stage, thus the name HopeBox emerged. Their mission; “To bring hope to families battling cancer, through the performing arts.” Unsure where to begin, Jan did know one thing for certain.

“I knew I wanted the color teal throughout the theatre, including the logo, curtain and walls. Teal represents Ovarian Cancer. Ovarian cancer isn’t as well-known as other forms of cancer because more often than not it is a death sentence. Many times ovarian cancer isn’t detected until late in the game when a diagnosis of stage 3 or 4 is given.”

Prior to Jan’s diagnosis of Ovarian cancer, we had worked together on a production of Seven Brides for Seven Brother. Fast-forward to October 2015, I received at text from Jan to discuss a “dream” she had. We met at an old white building with hideous black and white checkerboard and orange zebra striped walls, the ceilings draped with burlap. I stared in astonishment. A transformed Jan stood in front of me. Her long jet-black hair lopped short after chemo. Her eyes brimming with the enthusiasm that only someone with new found determination could possess. There was no mistaking it. Jan was back, and she was on fire. Excitedly, Jan took me around describing her vision for the building. She ended by asking me to come aboard her team as her costume and wig specialist. Naturally the crazy thespian in me accepted. Work began immediately on our first production, the musical 9 to 5.

HopeBox theatre has a seven show season consisting of 5-HopeBox productions and 2-Showstoppers productions, the acting classes Jan teaches aimed at teenagers. A “Wall of Hope” recipient is chosen for each show to sponsor. Proceeds and ticket sales from that show are donated to that recipient.

“This recipient becomes part of the cast. Each night at the end of rehearsal and again before each performance the cast puts hands in and cheers their recipient. One of the biggest things I love about the HopeBox is that it gives a purpose to those volunteering their time, both cast and crew.”

The first wall of Hope recipient for the musical 9 to 5 was Cheryl Jones. Cheryl’s vibrant personality and contagious smile lit up any room she walked into. Jan recalls this show as her own personal triumph.

“9 to 5 was therapeutic for me. It meant I was still here and I was still fighting. I not only directed, but was also in the show as the character Violet. I identify with Violet on so many levels. Violet is a strong single mother, who has to overcome many obstacles facing women in the 1970’s. The whole show is about the power of women. I remember each night we kept Cheryl in our hearts, performing for her, regardless of if she was in the audience or not.”

At the end of each run the cast invites the Wall of Hope recipient onstage and showers them with love. Each cast presents the recipient with a cast photo, something special used in the show, a metal HopeBox to take home, gifts for any children/spouse, a check to the family from the proceeds of that show, and a plaque to put up on the wall of hope. Closing night of 9 to 5 was full of raw emotion. Jan escorted Cheryl onto the stage, tears gliding gently down her cheeks. Each word labored, drenched in emotion Jan began to talk. Undeniable joy was apparent in Jan’s eyes as the cast gave Cheryl one final cheer. On June 2, 2015 at the early age of 44, Cheryl Diane Jones finished her valiant and courageous battle with cancer.

When I asked Jan her favorite memory of the HopeBox, she laughed. How could she pick? Surely she loved every moment, even the “messy stuff.” Here is a glimpse at these cherished, and often “unique” moments. From rehearsing for Hairspray without power to the awkward loincloth fittings for Tarzan. From watching nuns learn how to tap dance to hot gluing green sequins onto EVERYTHING for the Wizard of Oz. Watching aspiring actors step out of their comfort zones into challenging roles like Dolly from Hello Dolly or Audrey from Little Shop of Horrors. Entering Tarzan, Little Mermaid, and Wizard of Oz floats in several fourth of July parades, each pleasantly winning prizes. Or participating in carnivals, concerts in the park, and various other community events. Even making the occasional cameo in her shows at the urging of her cast, Jan’s memories are endless.

“This summer HopeBox produced the Little Mermaid. I loved this show for several reasons, but most of all because the cast just got it. They got the mission, they got the purpose. All 100 cast members just got it. This show just had a feeling of comradery about it. From the smallest clownfish to our towering King Triton, they simply loved each other.”

Jan gave me the opportunity to costume this cast. Our costume shop always had 5 – 10 volunteers helping, sewing beading on or cutting out patterns. Everyone helped out, even Scuttle sewed on buttons while Ariel painted the mersisters seashell bras and Flotsam helped pin mermaid fins together. Above all else we loved our wall of hope recipient, spunky 7-year-old Sophie Jacobsen fighting pelvic bone cancer.

“Sophie really became a part of their cast. She came to several rehearsals and always requested the Seagull’s tap dance number “Positivity” or the Mersisters number “She’s in Love.” I loved that I was just able to just direct. Word of the show spread like wildfire and sure enough, each show was sold out. I think The Little Mermaid is a great representation of what the HopeBox is all about.”

Sophie is now in remission and fighting like a champ. Although the show is over, the cast periodically gets updates on Sophie, like her first day of school and the day her baby brother was born.

Any theatrical production has the ability to take you away from the realities of life. The productions that the HopeBox Theatre produces achieve not only that, they also aim to lighten the burdens of life for someone else.

“HopeBox may be a small theatre but I sincerely believe we are going to do great things in our community. We have so much talent in our amazing casts, crew and productions. My dream is to one day see the walls covered in names. Names of the courageous, kind, and special people welcomed into the HopeBox family. Wouldn’t that be an amazing sight?”

There is a stain glass window above the doors that lead into the HopeBox Theatre. A single dove flying over a rainbow. It was probably left behind from when the building was a church. Some say it should go, but I appreciate its simple symbolism. After all, what signifies hope better than a dove?

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For more information about the HopeBox Theatre please visit our website at: www.hopeboxtheatre.com or e-mail questions to contact@hopeboxtheare.com

HopeBox Theatre

1700 S Frontage Road

Kaysville, UT 84307

Tel: 801-451-5259

For more information about the HopeBox Theatre please visit our website at: www.hopeboxtheatre.com or e-mail questions to contact@hopeboxtheare.com

HopeBox Theatre

1700 S Frontage Road, Kaysville, UT 84307

Tel: 801-451-5259