Taking the lead

SOAP LAKE — After spending most of his life on the stage, Brendan Brooks is taking the director’s chair for the first time.

The 17-year-old Moses Lake High School student is directing the Masquers Theater production of “On Golden Pond.”

The play runs April 10, April 11, April 18, April 24, April 25, May 1 and May 2 at 8 p.m., and April 19 and April 26 at 3 p.m., in the theater located at 322 E. Main in Soap Lake.

“It’s a big challenge,” Brooks said. “Talking to the board, just sitting up there doing the meetings and just having everyone in the theater just look at you like, ‘Ok, what do you want us to do?’”

He has gotten used to the challenges, he said.

“I thought the hardest part was blocking. Just reading the script over and over (and deciding) ok, I want him to go here or here. I had no idea what I was doing,” Brooks said.

Brooks is directing the play as his senior project. He picked directing because of his love for theater.

“This is a big part of my life,” he said. “I love community theater. I love going and having fun with acting. They said, ‘Something that you love to do.’ OK. Acting. Why don’t I do acting? Why don’t I act in a play and direct a play?”

Brooks performed in the play when he was in seventh grade. It was the first time he performed with his father, Randy Brooks. Both reprising their roles for this production.

“That’s the whole reason I chose this show for my senior project. I’ve always kept this show in my heart,” Brendan said. “I fell in love with it. I just thought it was an amazing show.”

He wanted to perform with his father one more time, because it will be the last chance for a while. Brendan is planning to join the Army once he graduates in June.

Brendan credits a lot of his success in directing the play to his cast.

“I’ve got directors, actors, hall of famers in there. If I do something really stupid then they’re like, ‘Um… maybe not that,’” he said.

Brendan said directing his father has been weird and fun. Usually their roles are reversed and his father is the director and Brendan is the actor.

“I think it’s funny because my dad will sit there and will be like, ‘Well, whatever you want to do,’ and I’ll say, ‘Ok, move here. I’m just kidding. Move here,’” Brendan said. “‘Do what the director says.’ It’s fun.”

The play is dedicated to his dead sister, Heather Doran, and his brother, Sean Doran. Both of them have suffered from cystic fibrosis, a disease which clogs the lungs and obstructs the pancreas. It’s caused by a defective gene, which causes the body to produce thick, sticky mucus, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

“I just thought, ‘Why don’t we make it a fund-raiser?’ So what I talked to Masquers board about, was to have a one night show. The first Sunday, the entire proceeds of the night will go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.”

When Brendan was growing up, he would say he wanted to help his older brother get better, Brendan said.

“I just figured, I would do what I could do to help them do research, all that I can do. I’d love to help, and I kind of thought this would be a good way to do it,” he said.