Pix Fix
While raising children, Denise Meagher, a returning area native, became a published freelance writer, voice over talent and enthusiastic community theatre participant. She loves reading, writing, traveling, time with friends and most of her family and empty-nesting with husband, Ted.
PIX FIX - That was then, this is WOW!
I remember my first experience with The PIX on Main Street, Downtown Waukesha.
The year? 1974. The reason? My first date. The movie? The Sting.
While I don't recall much of the movie - hey, it was my first date - I do recall The PIX's somewhat dark and dingy 'clothes'. They were shabby even for the 70s. The floor was so sticky that if I'd been a fly, I'd have stayed glued to it. The backside of The PIX was dimly lit, seedy and neglected. It was in dire need of a costume change and a new role.
That was then.
Following graduation, I shed my own childhood costumes and exchanged them according to the roles I played. As I went from high school student to USAF Airman; to wife, mother and grandmother; one of the best things I did for myself and consequently for my family during those earlier years was to get back to a passion, a costume I hadn't donned since high school - theatre. It's a costume I won't shed again. And because we moved a good deal during our ever-changing lives, I was blessed to have been a part of various community theatres; which brings me back to The PIX.
Unexpectedly, in 2004, I returned to this area. Weird, but in a good, there's-no-place-like-home sort of way. I came full circle. When I auditioned for and became a part of Waukesha Civic Theatre's, (WCT), holiday production, Miracle On 34th Street, it hit me - this wonderfuly put-together, classy yet comfortable place was formerly The PIX. It had changed over the years just as I had.
Now, having been involved in a number of shows since, I've gotten a bit spoiled; spoiled because WCT is only about five minutes from home. After a long night of rehearsal, that's a definite plus. Best of all; however, is the fact that WCT is one of the finest facilities I've ever performed in and those I've had the honor of working with are among the finest people around.
Live theatre is a place, where for a few hours a person, whether on-stage or off, behind the scenes or in front, participant, or patron, can forget the world's chaos and their own cares and concerns and enjoy what's good. I love that!
For 52 years WCT has been and will continue to enrich, challenge and entertain those who get involved; whether it's as an audience member, a performer, volunteer or staff. The PIX, home of WCT, not only presents up to 25 artistic events over 40 weeks of the year, but it has more than 300 members of our community involved in its organization, contributing 20,000 hours per year to Waukesha's cultural cornerstone. It's a vital, thriving, comely place - no longer clothed in dark and dingy. Quite the opposite.
This is WOW!
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