Finding courage in the spotlight
FLORENCE — When Garrett Cox first stepped onto the Shoals Community Theatre stage this summer, it wasn’t his ambition that pulled him there. It was family.
“It was my daughters who were interested in auditioning for ‘Matilda,’” Cox explained, adding that he was cast alongside his daughters — Caroline, Cecilia and Catherine — in the ensemble of that show, which ran at Shoals Theatre in July.
“You know, these shows take a lot of work. Everybody works really hard and they have these long practices,” Cox continued. “I came to realize, if my daughters were in a play and I wasn’t in it with them, I wouldn’t see them very much. We only have a few hours in the afternoons to see each other anyway. So, if they want to do it, I want to do it with them.”
That decision launched the 45-year-old Florence native into a new creative world. Since his involvement in “Matilda: The Musical,” Cox now finds himself in the towering role of the Monster in the Shoals Theatre’s next production, “Young Frankenstein.”
Sharing the spotlight is fellow newcomer Alyssa Ledlow, 24, of Killen, who will play the spirited Inga.
Like Cox, Ledlow said she never imagined she’d see herself on stage, performing for a multitude. For years, she’s preferred to sing in the confines of her car, safe from critical ears.
“I’d always wanted to do musical theater since I was in high school, but I never felt like I was good enough,” she admitted. “I was a band kid, and I’ve always enjoyed shows like ‘Hamilton’ and ‘Wicked,’ and I got to see ‘Phantom (of the Opera)’ on Broadway. That really inspired me, but I’ve always been more of a sing-in-the-car type of person.”
Despite the slight sense of stage fright, Ledlow faced those fears and attended her first audition this summer as well. Cast as various ensemble parts alongside Cox, she soon found her stride, though it wasn’t without its challenges.
“I started strong, then completely forgot my audition music,” she said with a laugh. “The judges kind of got me going again and helped me finish the song. Somehow, I got cast. That gave me the courage to try again. It was fun, and now I’m doing this.”
Ledlow’s confidence grew when director Natalie Quinn trusted her with the part of Inga, a character made famous by Teri Garr in the 1974 Mel Brooks film on which the musical is based.
“I always doubted myself, but when Natalie cast me, I thought, ‘She wouldn’t give me this role if I couldn’t handle it,’” Ledlow said, adding that the part has also pushed her even further out of her comfort zone.
In preparing for the role, she’s also had to learn to yodel.
“When I first heard Sutton Foster sing ‘Roll in the Hay’ on the Broadway soundtrack, I thought, ‘I wonder if I can do that?’ I was pretty bad at first, but I worked on it,” she said with a laugh. “It’s been fun to learn something totally new.”
Ledlow and Cox each said they’ve relied heavily on the source material— the Mel Brooks film—in developing their characters, but they’ve also worked hard to ensure they include their own signature stamps on their respective parts.
“I’m not afraid to embarrass myself,” Cox joked. “But for me, this character is not the usual Frankenstein’s monster that you should be afraid of. He’s such a sweet character. There’s a line in the movie, ‘You’re not bad. You’re good.’ That was something I felt I could bring to this. Yes, he’s big, he’s scary and he’s different. At the heart, though, he’s a good creature.”
Quinn, who previously helmed “The Addams Family” in 2023, said Cox and Ledlow were natural fits.
“Garrett walked in, sang a few notes, and blew us away,” Quinn said. “He’s willing to do anything we ask with minimal sass, and he’s hilarious. And Alyssa—she’s what we call a Blue Bird. She just appeared out of nowhere with this magnificent voice. Casting someone new in a big role is always a risk, but she’s exceeded every expectation.”
Audiences can also expect a visual twist. Quinn is staging the entire production in grayscale to mimic a black-and-white film. Sets, props, and even makeup will be shades of gray, black, and white.
“It’s like stepping into the movie itself,” she said.
Both actors credit the welcoming atmosphere of the Zodiac Players at the Shoals Theatre for making the leap from first-time auditioners to featured performers less intimidating.
“There are no sweeter people in the world than these theater people,” Cox said. “I’ve received wonderful leadership from Natalie and from some of the other cast. You know, you’re afraid you’ll come in and they’ll be critical of you. That might hang you up, but don’t let it. Everyone here supports everyone else. They’re all like family now.”
Ledlow agrees. “You don’t have to have any experience at all. When I stepped into ‘Matilda,’ I had never been on stage like this,” she said. “They welcome people of all backgrounds here. Everyone is encouraged to join. They’re always posting auditions on the Shoals Theatre page. Just go for it. You won’t be disappointed.”
Veteran cast member Isabella Robertson, who plays Elizabeth, said working with the newcomers has been a joy, and like Ledlow, she also welcomes anyone interested in trying their acting chops for the first time.
“Ensemble is one of my favorite parts to be in, especially in musical, so also remember there are no small parts,” she said. “And we’re not judgmental people. We’re all on stage together ready to make fools of ourselves. I promise, we want more people to come and participate, and of course, to come be friends with us.”
For both Cox and Ledlow, “Young Frankenstein” represents more than a chance to entertain—it’s proof that it’s never too late to try something new.
“I fell in love with musical theater through this process,” Ledlow said. “Now I can share that love with an audience. I can’t wait to hear the laughter.”
WANT TO GO?
WHEN: Showtimes are at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 2-4, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5
WHERE: Shoals Community Theatre, 123 N. Seminary St. in Florence
TICKETS: Available at www.theshoalstheatre.org, or by calling 256-764-1700. Tickets are $16.95 for adults, $13.61 for students and $11.55 for children
COSTUME CONTEST: Come dressed as your favorite villain or monster and you could win great prices like gift cards to local businesses and restaurants or a ticket to the haunted attraction, Arx Mortis. The contest is open to all audience members attending any night of the play.
