The "New Opera House" in Charles Town, WV was built in 1910 and hosted hometown talent, meetings, vaudeville acts, and later, Saturday movie serials accompanied by the musical stylings of a local piano teacher. It went dark in the 1930’s, but in the 1970’s an enterprising group of citizens worked successfully to renovate and re-open the grand old building. Carol was a part of that group, and part of the cast for the opening show in "The Old Opera House" (OOH) in 1976, My Fair Lady.

 

With a past that included an appearance at age seven on the local "Fred Kirby Show" as a cowgirl singing, for some unknown reason, "April Showers," and years of chorus singing in school along with 13 years at Miss Henderson’s School of Dance, Carol discovered she still loved to perform. She has appeared, choreographed and/or danced in a dozen shows at the OOH, including Cabaret, Guys and Dolls and The Music Man.

 

She has worked backstage on shows, served on the Board of Directors and been producing director for three town variety shows, an experience she humorously relates in her essay, "A Show of Community." Her acting credits include Lennie in Crimes of the Heart and, at the former Trinity Theater in Washington,D.C., she performed in, I’m Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road and Guys and Dolls. Most recently, she wrote and produced a play at the OOH.

 

When Charlotte the Wonder Dog was cast as the four-legged star of Annie, Carol happily took on the role of Stage Mom, both at the Old Opera House and at Musselman High School. Only once did "Sandy" escape into the audience to personally greet and kiss those who were gleefully applauding her appearance.