Insight Theatre Production Began as Birthday Present

When rolled into the last weekend, it told the story of a middle-aged woman who flirts with a new life. But there was a second story on the stage, the story of a Seattle, WA, couple, Charlie and Bonita Staadecker.

The play, which continues Friday and Saturday night with a Sunday matinee, was a birthday present from Charlie to his wife. Commissioning a work of art is an idea that Charlie calls the greatest investment you'll ever make in your life, because it will outlive you. And, he adds, you don't have to be a Rockefeller to do it.

It all began in a pumpkin patch. Sort of. Benita wanted to attend a pumpkin carving. Charlie didn't. But Bonita has a way with Charlie. “I've had two challenges in my life,” Charlie said. “One was Benita's request to go see Wayne Newton in Vegas. I didn't want to go, but Bonita is hard to refuse so I went. It was the same with the pumpkin carving.”

At the carving, the couple heard a woman talking about commissioning a tuba concerto with the Seattle Symphony in memory of her husband. As the woman described the experience in detail and what it cost, Charlie knew what gift he would give Bonita for her 60th birthday.

“A light bulb went off in my head about commissions,” Charlie said. “I knew right away.”

Charlie went to A Contemporary Theatre (ACT)—of which the Staadeckers are longtime supporters—and artistic director Kurt Beattie liked the idea. He hired award-winning playwright Steven Dietz to write the play. Dietz was reluctant at first because he knew how difficult it is to write comedy.

“Dietz said 'Give me a bottle of scotch and a cabin for a weekend, and I'll write a drama,'” Charlie related. “'But comedy is the gold standard.'”

Two months later, the first 10 pages were presented to Bonita in a surprising way. “I was sitting in a board meeting when I got the first 10 pages,” Bonita said. “I was shocked. I had never gotten anything like that before. That was amazing. Not just something you can wrap in a box.”

Commissioning art pieces was a common practice during the Renaissance period by governments, religious institutions and the wealthy like the Medici family, who also dictated every aspect of the piece. ACT made it clear that would not be the case with the Staadeckers.

“They cautioned me very early,” Charlie said. “It's not about you. You'll have no input and there's no guarantee it'll be produced. The only thing I said was please don't make it dark. It's a birthday present.”

The road was not easy at first. The Staadeckers understood they had committed to art and knew there was an artistic journey, but it would be 14 months before they heard anything. When the play was finally finished, it was a revelation.

“The first read through was a milestone,” Charlie said. “It was jaw dropping. They told me they were going to close the season with the play.”

When the play premiered at ACT in 2008, it was a critical success, and has now been produced in 14 cities with more on the way. But Becky's New Car was most successful with the Staadeckers. “I loved it,” Bonita said. “It was wonderful right from the beginning.”

Charlie concurred. “The audience reaction was great. Dietz had captured this universality. I saw it during the first run 33 times,” he said.

The play has dramatically changed the Staadecker's lives. They attend performances as often as they can everywhere it is produced. Often their friends go with them. “We call ourselves Becky groupies,” Bonita said. “Our world has changed. Actors come from around the country and stay with us. We're just having a ball.”

Although they were unable to come to Insight Theatre's production at the Heagney, they did contact local actress, Susie Wall—who plays Becky—to wish her luck.

When the Staadeckers go to the shows, they offer to do a talk after the show. “We don't ever push ourselves on the theater,” Bonita said. “We offer to tell the story if they want. They can use us for publicity, talk to their board about commissions, whatever they want.”

Encouraging others to commission works of art has become a mission with the Staadeckers, and they often emphasize that it's affordable. They paid $20,000 to $30,000, payable over three years to write “Becky's New Car.”

“To people's minds it sounds incredibly expensive and out of reach,” Bonita said. “It's not. We're very normal people. Everyone has a little disposal income. This option allows you to make a piece of art that goes on.”

Charlie agreed. “You don't have to be a Medici or a Vanderbilt to commission a work of art,” he said. “Forgo the European trip—forgo the safari.”

The Staadeckers got hooked themselves. Before Becky's New Car even opened, they commissioned the Seattle Symphony to compose a concerto in honor of their 25th wedding anniversary. When Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra by Seattle Symphony composer in residence Samuel Jones premiered in 2009, it garnered rave reviews and has since been performed across the country.

The Staadeckers liked the concerto so much they commissioned another work by Jones, Reflections: Songs of Fathers and Daughters, which premiered earlier this month. This difference was that due to the economy, the Staadeckers couldn't afford to do it on their own, so they teamed with two other couples to raise enough money for the commission.

Joining forces with fellow art lovers gave the Staadeckers a new way to encourage others to commission art.

“Part of it is the idea that if you want to make an investment in the arts—if you believe in art—this is affordable,” Charlie said. “It's a choice. You can go on a trip or you can create a legacy work of art. “

Bonita summed it up nicely “Long after we're gone, how we're judged as a culture will be from our art.”

"Becky's New Car” continues at the Heagney Theatre, Nerinx Hall, 530 E. Lockwood, Webster Groves, MO, Fri, Sat, and Sun, June 17-18, 8p.m.; Sun, 2pm. Tickets are available at the box office.