HOOD RIVER & BINGEN — Two large-cast musicals running simultaneously in the Gorge is uncommon enough. A father and son performing in different productions at the same time is even more unusual.
This summer, the Daly family found itself juggling exactly that: Mike Daly and his son Anders each had shows running this August. Mike was in “String: The Musical” at The Bingen Theater July 31-Aug. 15, while Anders was in “Cabaret” at the Columbia Center for the Arts (CCA) Aug. 7-15.
For Anders, performing has been a lifelong passion. “I’ve always loved performing,” he said. “Even since elementary school, I’ve felt comfortable on stage.”
His recent roles include Gomez in Columbia High School’s production of “The Addams Family,” Noel Gruber in “Ride the Cyclone” at CCA, and Lurvy in “Charlotte’s Web” at The Bingen.
“There’s something very comforting about becoming somebody else for a while,” he said. “It makes you realize how similar everybody is.”
“He’s never had any kind of stage fright,” added Mike Daly. “That’s something we wanted to encourage. It’s so valuable in life in general, that ability to perform and hold an audience.”
When Anders was 15, he auditioned for a production of “The Rocky Horror Show” at The Bingen. Mike had to drive him to the audition and give his parental permission, so “I figured I might as well audition too,” he recalled with a laugh.
Mike ended up in the cast, and that launched his own involvement in community theater. Since then, father and son have shared a love of the stage. Mike’s last stage appearance was as Mr. Scary in “Junie B. Jones: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells” at CCA.
The overlapping productions have created one disappointment. Because the performance schedules conflict, Mike wasn’t able to see Anders in a public performance of “Cabaret.” “I had to watch a dress rehearsal. But it was great!” he said.
The demanding rehearsal and performance schedules have also affected the rest of the family, with evenings and some weekends devoted to theater. “Being family during two simultaneous theater productions is no joke.”
Audiences have two wonderful productions to entertain and connect them, and Daly’s are grateful to be part of such a thriving local arts community. “The theater community here in the Gorge is so supportive, inclusive, and just fun,” Mike Daly said. “Everyone should do a show!”
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