Family 'Secret'
By Marcia Fulmer
Entertainment Editor, Elkhart Truth
Thursday, May 8, 2003
Musical theatre is a family affair for a trio of cast members in the current Round Barn Theatre production of The Secret Garden.
And that’s the way it’s always been, said mom Susan Hepler Yoder. Daughters Kristyn Yoder and Jennie Yoder Grunseth agree.
Susan had thoughts of a professional career in music but sometime during her years at Alma (Mich.) College, her primary focus shifted to art. For 17 years, she has taught art and music at Goshen High School where, like her daughters after her, she was a member of the Goshen High School Crimsonaires.
“I gave voice lessons to Marcia Yost,” she laughed, adding that now she works closely with Yost, head of music and drama at GHS, on the school’s annual musical productions.
Both girls were a part of these productions during their high school years, and Jennie noted it was there she was “inspired to take it to the next step” and pursue a professional career.
Her first aim was opera but, after two years at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, “My passion for opera died off, she said. “I wanted to get more exposure in music theatre.”
To accomplish this, she transferred to Bethel College, where she played leading roles in a variety of musicals.
Both Jennie and Kristyn grew up with music. “We sang when we were very little,” the dark-haired soprano recalled. “And I always sat in on rehearsals,” added Kristyn.
Their grandfather, the late Robert Hepler, was instrumental in bringing the Broadway Theater League to South Bend, and the girls recall front row seats for all the touring productions at the Morris. “I remember loving to go to anything,” Jennie said. “Ballet, concerts, musicals, anything.”
Being a spectator translated into being a performer during elementary and middle school and blossomed into a full-fledged passion in high school.
Like her mom, Jennie was blessed with a soaring soprano, which was nurtured via early lessons with Kay Montgomery at Goshen College and, later, in Chicago and with Vickie Garrett at Bethel.
Kristyn’s theatrical talents, however, lay in other directions. “I’m not blessed with a natural voice,” said the younger (by one year) sister. “I had to work at it.”
One of her primary loves was sports: she swam and played softball and soccer at Goshen, going to Bethel initially to play soccer. It was Jennie who convinced her to audition for the college production of Oklahoma!
“Part of the audition was improvisation, Jennie said. “Kristyn stole the show. She found a great sense of comic timing.”
After earning a degree in liberal studies and early childhood education, Kristyn was offered a scholarship to return to Bethel for a theater degree.
“But I was already working here (at the Round Barn),” she said. “I was company manager and doing wigs and makeup and I was in all the shows.”
And there are only so many hours in the day.
Jennie first was on the Round Barn stage right after high school playing Katie Yoder in the annual production of Plain and Fancy. When the repertory shows were added, she was a company member for the full seasons in 1996 and 2001.
In ’96, Jennie and Kristyn go their mom to return to the stage. “They made me audition for Fiddler on the Roof,” Susan said, “They said ‘Mom, you have a gift.’ They wouldn’t let me chicken out.”
Obviously, it was the right decision. Susan has been on stage periodically ever since, including two productions of Fiddler, as the Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music (her favorite role) and as Lady Tiang in last year’s The King and I.
When not performing, she puts her artistic talents to work behind the scenes. “I paint, sew, make hats…anything they need me to do,” she said.
“And she’s constantly supporting us,” her daughters add.
The sisters have played siblings in several Round Barn productions: Sister and Doris in Damn Yankees, Rose and Lily in The Secret Garden, and Cinderella and a Wicked Stepsister in Cinderella.
This is Jennie’s only show for 2003 as she continues to study and audition and is replacing Garrett at Bethel during her sabbatical. It’s also her second time as Lily, the ghostly mother in Secret Garden. “I played the role in high school,” she said, adding that a cast with age differences helps give the show different levels. “And the music is such a pleasure to sing!”
A wife of several years, Jennie can’t say enough about the solid support given by husband Dan Grunseth, a residential painter. “I really want to try for a career for several years,” she said. “But whatever, I will always be involved in musical theatre.”
That sentiment is echoed by Kristyn, who is “too busy” to find time for romantic involvements.
“I would love to be a part of theatre for the rest of my life,” she said emphatically, noting that her work at the Round Barn has become year-round and not just summer employment. And, as Ruth Winters, the feisty New Yorker in this year’s Plain and Fancy, she said she has found her favorite role.
But the season is young and Kristyn is looking ahead to her roles in each of this year’s musicals, especially Lina Lamont in Singin’ in the Rain and the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz.
Until June 15, the talented trio can look forward to interacting on stage six times a week in the musical version of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic children’s tale.
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