Stories of Engagement

Again and again we have been struck by the breadth and depth of our theatre’s connections to our community, the ways in which those connections ripple out into the great world, and the ways in which they ripple back.

So we invited artists, staff members, students, board members, teachers, donors, business owners—anyone really—to write stories about their engagement with People’s Light. Whether the writers have been involved for three years or thirty years, the thoughts and feelings expressed in these stories are the same: People’s Light has had a profound impact on people’s lives.

We will be featuring new stories here. And we plan to continue adding to our collection of stories; not only do they record our history and commitment to community; they inspire our future. We would love to hear your story! To submit one, you can email the Associate Director of Marketing, Abby Stafford, at stafford@peopleslight.org.

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Mike Hahn
Sound Engineer
People's Light was my first experience with theater. As a fifth grade student from Oxford, Pennsylvania, PLTC's Discovery program hooked me into the world of play and imagination with Romeo & Juliet. Because of my interest in theater as a child, I drew my parents, friends and siblings into a world that they may never have encountered on their own. It was a place where I belonged. I was not into sports; I was afraid of karate; but I loved making music and making people laugh. I had found my purpose. Theater became an irreplaceable outlet for that sense of make-believe that most of us lose as we get older. It became the focus of my life - my extracurricular activity, my legion of friends, my most trusted teachers - all were somehow part of my theater existence. I studied theater in college where I found an even greater interest in the technical aspects of putting on a production. When I failed to apply myself to the job hunt, I spent several years and even more jobs trying to find what I wanted to do with my life. I returned to school and became certified as a professional audio engineer. When the job hunt began again, People's Light answered my call and hired me to be the sound engineer for their holiday Panto production of Cinderella - an experience that truly changed my life. Being able to work in the industry that was my childhood passion is a dream that few people in the world can say they have accomplished. PLTC kickstarted my love of theater and now I had come full circle. I currently work full time at People's Light as a sound engineer and a scenic carpenter and I have been a teaching artist with the youth Summerstage program for three years. And I get to tap into that world every day and share the imagination, creativity and freedom that theater has provided.