Rekindling fire

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John Walls returns to theater as Nathan Detroit in ‘Guys and Dolls’

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John Walls is returning to the stage as Nathan Detroit, one of the show’s leading roles. (Submitted Photo)

Local attorney John Walls, 43, has always had a profound love of music, art, performance and the stage. After being forced to focus on his career and his family for some time, Walls is looking to make his return to the theater as Nathan Detroit in the Civic Theatre’s “Guys and Dolls.”

“I started singing and dancing in junior high and high school. They (schools) had a fantastic music program at Moorseville, where I attended school at the time,” said Walls. “After that, I attended Indiana University. I didn’t want to major in music. I knew I didn’t want a career in it, but I wanted to continue doing it. Its program was large enough I would be eligible for different types of performance as long as I was good enough, not just if I was majoring in it.”

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Walls

While he continued to perform throughout college, Walls’ continued education and desire to build his career quickly overwhelmed the opportunities for future performances.

“When I started graduate school, I left it all behind, and I’ve always missed it,” said Walls. “The last (performance) I did was around 16 years ago.”

After following his niece’s involvement with local community theater, Walls decided to take a chance and audition for a small part in the upcoming production of the Broadway classic, “Guys and Dolls.”

“I originally auditioned for a smaller, supporting role, but got a call back for Nathan Detroit, a leading role in the show,” said Walls. “I felt very humbled they (production members) took that kind of a risk on me as a first-time performer with them, and as someone who had not performed in so long.”

In “Guys and Dolls,” a New York gambler is challenged to take a female missionary to Havana, Cuba. They fall for each other and the bet has a hidden motive to finance an illegal-floating crap game.

Walls says he understands the pressure is now on him to deliver with his performance. The rehearsal schedule is a massive investment, especially the volunteer status of those involved. For the past month, the cast and crew have been holding rehearsals in the evenings for three hours a day, five days a week. All of this passion and hard work has only inspired Walls to do even better.

“The amount of work required by everyone, cast members and crew members, is the most impressive thing I have seen since I started working with the Civic (Theatre),” said Walls. “It has really rekindled this fire inside me (to perform).”

  • WHAT: “Guys and Dolls”
  • WHEN: Friday through May 12
  • WHERE: The Tarkington, 3 Center Green, Carmel
  • COST: $39 general, $20 child
  • INFO: Visit thecenterfortheperformingarts.org

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