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April 17, 2009

Galer wears many hats at local Gaslight Theatre

By Robert Barron, Staff Writer The Enid News and Eagle Fri Apr 17, 2009, 01:36 PM CDT

There are a few familiar faces associated with Gaslight Theater in Enid, but while others are not seen as often it doesn’t mean they aren’t busy.

Terri Galer is one of those people. Galer is a special education teacher at Enid High School. She participated in speech and drama as a high school student, and when she returned to Enid she found a home at Gaslight.

As a musician— Galer is pianist for Central Christian Church — she was part of the production of Man of La Mancha in 1997. She started playing keyboard for Gaslight musicals.

She had a part in the production of “A Streetcar Named Desire,” which whetted her appetite for acting.

In fall 2007 she directed “All I Really Know I Learned in Kindergarten,” and in 2008 she performed the lead role of Annie in the play “Misery,” for which she received a Charlie nomination.

“I love arts people, music and drama. I like the fantasy aspect. As a kid I played and pretended I was different things, and this is an extension of childhood,” she said.

Having done more than one job, Galer said directing is the hardest in theater. When she directed her play last year she said she did not feel totally comfortable.

“I have so many competent friends, and I call on them to help. That’s the way the theater is: You ask people to do something and if they can they are there,” she said.

Galer currently is in rehearsal for “Broadway Bound,” the third in the Neil Simon trilogy about his childhood. She plays Simon’s mother. The play will stage the first two weekends in May.

Galer’s love of theater has extended to her family members. Her daughter, Louisa, went with her to auditions for “Man of La Mancha” and developed a love of theater. She now is in Los Angeles trying to make a career out of entertaining and has had small parts in several television shows.

“I like to be on stage; it’s the most fun,” Galer said. “I have no preference for plays. I like a challenge ... something I can do something with,” she said. “The more different from myself the better.”

Community theater is important to the cultural aspect of a community, and Enid is fortunate to have the cultural assets it does, she said.

“Enid has a nice theater, with some professional quality. There are some good actors; we have a wonderful symphony,” she said. We shouldn’t have to drive to Oklahoma City or Tulsa for everything.”

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Galer wears many hats at local Gaslight Theatre

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