By David Vitrano
L’Observateur

RESERVE – Cary Berthelot is no stranger to the stage at St. John Theatre, but recently she has had a chance to get better acquainted with the facility than ever before.
Berthelot was recently named interim managing director at the theater, and she’s receiving a trial by fire of sorts.
Next week the theater is bringing “The Producers” to Reserve, and that major production will be followed closely by the annual Missoula Children’s Workshop and the 65th St. John Sugar Queen Pageant.
Those who know Berthelot from her other job — she’s an athletic trainer and faculty member at Nicholls State University — might be surprised at her propensity for live theater in general and St. John Theatre in particular, but anyone who knew Berthelot when she was growing up in Reserve might not be so shocked.
“I was actually in the very first show they did here,” she said. “I also saw a movie here before it closed down as a movie theater.”
Not all of her memories of the Reserve stage are so distant, however. Berthelot appeared in recent productions of “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” and “The Music Man.”
As the managing director, Berthelot is in charge of taking care of all the things most theatergoers won’t notice — unless they aren’t taken care of.
These include day-to-day tasks such as making sure the concession stand is stocked, the aisles and seats are clean and the parking detail is handled. It also includes watching the bottom line.
“Anytime you work in a community theater, budget is a big concern,” the Riverside graduate said.
Despite the seemingly thankless nature of the job, Berthelot said she is glad to do it.
“I think we have a really special place,” she said.
Berthelot’s first major task is a tall order, but one she is looking forward to.
“(‘The Producers’) will be the most extreme musical we’ve put on here,” she said. “It’s going to be spectacular visually.”
It also may be the most high-profile of the summer musicals the theater has done in recent years. The Broadway production, based on the Mel Brooks movie of the same name, was wildly popular and spawned a movie itself.
“The learning curve is steep,” she said of her current workload. “I’m taking a lot of direction.”
Although Berthelot’s current role plays out behind the curtain, don’t be surprised if she graces the stage at St. John Theatre in the not-too-distant future.
“I really do enjoy all of it,” she said. “But there is nothing like a curtain call.”
“The Producers” opens Friday at St. John Theatre. For more information, visit www.stjohntheatre.org.