Hopelessly devoted

As a theater student at Baylor University, Delaney Wenger is required to find summer work in her field of study.

That’s easy enough to do in big cities such as, say, Austin, but the cost for housing is prohibitive.

“I’m still in my teens,” said Wenger, 19. “I’m not able to scrounge up the money to pay rent.”

Brandi Giles has a different yet similar problem.

As a teacher at a private school, she isn’t looking to go into theater full-time, but she does enjoy dancing onstage as a way to relieve stress.

The problem is, she lives in Terrell. There is no way she could commute an hour and 45 minutes each way to perform in musicals at the historic Granbury Opera House every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Both women’s problem has been solved, and both will be performing in the month-long run of “Grease,” which kicks off Friday night and features such songs as “Greased Lightnin’,” “Hopelessly Devoted to You” and “Summer Nights.”

They are able to be in the show because of the Gran-bury Theatre Company’s (GTC) host home program and because of Renee and Melissa Herndon, who consistently provide one of those homes.

Both Wenger and Giles have stayed with the Herndons during previous GTC productions and are living in their home full-time during rehearsals and performances of the 1950s-era musical.

Wenger landed a lead role, that of Sandy Dumbrowski. Hobbyist Giles is in the dance corps. A third cast member, Tiffany Hyatt, a member of the ensemble, is staying at the home on weekends. She, too, has been a previous guest at the Herndon home.

Giles said that the couple is “a godsend” and that the loving and supportive treatment she received from the women is why she auditioned for additional GTC shows.

“I feel blessed,” she said.

The Herndons feel blessed, too, although at first Renee was a slightly harder sell on the host home concept.

“I had to talk her into it a little bit,” said Melissa, who was more accustomed to having strangers in her home because her parents were certified foster parents.

Renee quickly warmed up to the idea, though.

“I thought it might be disruptive (to) our lives but, in fact, opening our home up has brought an awful lot of joy,” she said.

“I think that one of the things that I as a homeowner get out of this is I build friendships and relationships with these kids, which I treasure.”

ROOMIES – AND FRIENDS

Many of the actors are young adults. Some are a bit older, in their 30s.

Renee said that GTC board president Micky Shearon thoroughly vets the actors before placing them in host homes.

“I think he goes through almost a contract with them,” she said.

Renee stated that she has “absolutely no concern” about the actors and so far all of them have all been “A-plus guests.”

She said that she and Melissa try to make them feel comfortable, even placing Ghiradelli chocolates on their pillows.

“We feel completely safe,” said Melissa. “We trust them, and they trust us.”

Wenger’s parents live in the Fort Worth area. Their home is not that far away, but, still, about an hour’s drive each way. She said her parents are thrilled by the Herndons’ hospitality.

“It’s been really great for us to be able to come to a place that’s not only safe but very homey,” the college student said. “I think they’ve gone the extra mile to make sure we’re really comfortable here, which I really appreciate.”

Hosts are not asked to provide meals or clean up after the actors. All they are asked to do is provide a bed.

That said, though, Renee and Melissa enjoy inviting their house guests to go out with them for lunch or dinner. Last week, Renee, Melissa, Wenger and Giles went to dinner in Cleburne and then attended a performance at the Plaza Theatre that featured Hyatt.

Renee said that she loves getting to know the actors and hearing their behind-the-scenes stories about theater work.

“The work they put in is just amazing,” she said. “I’m just thankful for their contribution to the arts in this area.”

Renee, who worked for years as a human resources manager, and Melissa, a registered EEG technician at a hospital in Arlington, have long been GTC supporters.

The two originally had a weekend getaway here but made DeCordova their permanent home about five years ago. Renee said they have been GTC season ticket holders for about eight years.

Melissa said that during the 1970s her parents opened their home to Vietnamese children who were wards of the Buckner Baptist Children’s Home so that they wouldn’t have to spend the holidays in an “orphanage” setting.

That memory was triggered in December 2017 when the city condemned the building at 116 S. Houston St. known as the “Opera House Dorm,” displacing young actors and stagehands who were living there.

Melissa said it was an “easy transition” for her to go from hosting cast parties to offering a host home when Shearon sent out a request for lodging assistance.

“It has been so rewarding for us to get to know these kids, and we feel like we’re giving back to our community,” she said.

IMPORTANT ROLE

In Shearon’s view, host couples and families play an important role in drawing talent here. He noted that in 2016, 2017 and 2018, the GTC garnered multiple awards and nominations in the Column Awards competition.

The GTC’s 2018 season was honored with 36 nominations, and its “Into The Woods” won Best Non-Equity Musical for the entire Dallas/ Fort Worth area.

“Because of that growing reputation within the theater community, we have seen a steady increase in the number of people wanting to audition for our shows,” Shearon said.

“Not only are we pulling in performers from all over the state of Texas but from across the nation as well. In the past year we have had people from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Florida and from as far away as New York audition for our shows.”

Giles said the host home arrangement is like “a makeshift family.”

“It’s really nice to have some place to call home when you’re not actually at home,” she said.

Anyone interested in providing a host home or obtaining more information can contact Shearon at mgshearon@gmail.com.