Most actors would hurt someone for the stability of a two-year gig. But Chris Boeckx is taking one on next month just to help people.
He’s joining the Peace Corps, and he’s part of a growing group of local actors of late who have put their lives on hold to serve others.
Boeckx, a big-hearted funnyman who closes the Avenue’s “The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged)” on Dec. 31, leaves Jan. 20 for Thailand, where he will be helping local teachers incorporate more student-centered techniques into their classrooms.
Boeckx, 22, had a busy year on local stages, also starring in two productions of “I Love You. You’re Perfect, Now Change,” and appearing in Town Hall’s “My Fair Lady” and a children’s show at the Avenue. But he’s also been pursuing the Peace Corps for two years as he has completed his degree program at Metro State College in English and secondary education.
Boeckx has had to be patient — and flexible. He had wanted to serve in Latin America, to improve his Spanish for the teaching career he hopes to begin on his return. But he’s happy to be heading to Thailand.
“I think it’s going be a nice fit. Plus, I like being the tallest guy in the room, so no problem there,” said the lanky Boeckx, who wanted to see the world, and be part of a service project. “I thought it was a great opportunity to dive into a teaching experience. Plus it’s just freaking cool.”
One of the lamest stereotypes about actors is that they are narcissistic and egotistical, when most here are quick to come to the aid of individuals or organizations in need. Some, like Boeckx, are willing to put their dramatic ambitions on hold for years.
Next Stage’s Alannah Moore (“Chess”) made a mission to Madagascar. Paragon’s Kate Avallone (“Hedda Gabler”) and Jessica Posner (Modern Muse’s “Every Secret Thing”) just completed service projects in Africa.
Posner, a student, started a theater class for kids at a school in Kibera, a slum in Nairobi, Kenya, that is the largest in Africa and the second- largest in the world. She worked for Shining Hope for Community, a leadership group run by Kiberian youth.
“To give you some perspective, on average five people live in a 9.4-square-meter room,” Posner said. “Children usually sleep stacked up on bookshelves. The average income for a family of four with two working parents is $75 per month.”
Posner created a 90-minute play with 20 kids titled “The Face Behind the Mask: A Real Play About Real Poverty.”
“The goal was to work together to make a piece that addresses the myriad experiences and conditions of poverty — happy and sad … all real, and all incredibly compelling,” said Posner.
The play was performed at the Kenya National Theatre, the biggest in the country. The play soon will tour Kenya and be performed for that nation’s president and presidential candidates. “A member of Parliament saw it and thought these people must see this play to better understand the problems of the people they govern,” Posner said.
Avallone spent seven months fighting the AIDS pandemic in Zambia, where she read: “If you go to Africa with a hard heart, you’ll come back with a soft heart. If you go to Africa with a soft heart, you’ll come back with a broken heart.”
Avallone was a volunteer for AIDSRelief, a global consortium funded by President Bush’s $15 billion Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. She was connected by her brother with the University of Maryland’s Institute of Human Virology, which provides medical technical support to rural hospitals in Zambia.
She was there to help in whatever capacity was most needed. She taught the Excel spreadsheet program to new computer users, developed patient reports, dispensed prescriptions and more. “For a while, it also meant I got to be nanny to my new adopted baby niece, Kondwani, so my brother and sister-in-law could continue to do their work,” she said.
Town Hall milestone
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” doesn’t close until Dec. 30, but it became the highest-grossing show in Town Hall Arts Center history way back on Dec. 4, surpassing “Cabaret’s” $123,272. Both shows were directed by Nick Sugar. He’s a finalist for the 2007 Denver Post’s theater person of the year Ovation Award. Results will be published Dec. 30, along with your reader’s choice selections in more than 30 categories.
And finally …
When “White Christmas” opened last month, we asked readers to vote for their favorite holiday film-viewing ritual. The winner, not surprisingly: “White Christmas,” with 23.8 percent of the vote. Next: “A Christmas Story,” at 21.3, and “It’s a Wonderful Life,” at 16.3. Ballot-stuffing was prohibited, which doomed my fave, “The Ref,” to seventh place.
Humbug.
John Moore: 303-954-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com
This week’s openings
None.
This week’s closings
Today. Arvada Center’s “La Cage aux Folles” (main stage) and “Plaid Tidings” (Black Box Theater).
Today. Aurora Fox’s “David and Julie Payne’s ‘A Christmas Carol.’ ”
Today. Victorian Playhouse’s “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol.”
Today. Miners Alley Playhouse’s “A Tuna Christmas.” Golden
Today. El Centro Su Teatro’s “Á Colorado en una Noche de Navidad” (at the King Center).
Today. 3-G Entertainment’s “Hattie What I Need You To Know!” (at Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Theatre).
Today. Fine Arts Center Theatre’s “A Christmas Carol.” Colorado Springs
Today. TheatreWorks’ “The SantaLand Diaries,” with Kelly Walters. Colorado Springs
Mon. Colorado Shakespeare Festival’s “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” (at CU’s Mainstage Theatre). Boulder
Mon. Backstage’s “A Backstage 1950s Holiday Revue.” Breckenridge
Wed. The Bug Theatre’s “The SantaLand Diaries,” with Gary Culig.
Thu. Crossroads at Five Points’ “Sistas and Storytellers.”
Sat. Buntport’s “Titus Andronicus: The Musical!”
Dec. 30. Denver Center’s “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” (Buell Theatre).
Dec. 30. Crossroads Theatre’s “A December Suite.”
Dec. 30. Bas Bleu’s “The 1940s Radio Christmas Carol.” Fort Collins
Dec. 30. Town Hall Arts Center’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Littleton
Dec. 30. Lake Dillon’s “A Christmas Survival Guide.” Dillon
Dec. 30. Jesters Dinner Theatre’s “Scrooge.” Longmont
Dec. 30. Grand Theatre’s “A Christmas Tuna.” Winter Park
