Natalie Eickhoff-Newberry's journey with theater is a captivating tale of destiny and passion. From her earliest days, she was immersed in the world of performance, quite literally, as she took the stage as a fetus in her mother's belly. This early exposure set the stage for a lifelong love affair with theater, a love that has endured through generations and productions. What makes her story particularly fascinating is how her personal life and career have intertwined with the art form in ways that are almost surreal. Her parents' involvement in Jefferson City community theater and her own experiences growing up in this environment laid the foundation for her deep-rooted connection to the stage.
As a child, Eickhoff-Newberry's world revolved around the theater. She frequently accompanied her mother to rehearsals and became involved with local theater legend Wyn Riley's A Children's Theatrical Performing Arts Core. This early exposure instilled in her a sense of comfort and confidence that would serve her well throughout her career. The feeling of singing, dancing, and acting on stage made her feel bigger than herself, and she found joy in creating characters and telling stories to an audience.
One thing that immediately stands out is how theater has become a means of exploring and expressing human emotions. For Eickhoff-Newberry, it is not escapism but rather a way of delving deeper into her own experiences. She believes that theater requires taking more of yourself, pulling from real-life experiences to formulate and bring characters to life. This is what makes her performances so compelling and authentic.
What many people don't realize is that Eickhoff-Newberry's passion for theater extends beyond performing. She has discovered a new love for directing, which allows her to play the role of a 'puppet master'. As a director, she gets to lay the foundation for a show months before actors even get involved, touching every cornerstone of the production. This artistic process fills her cup, and she finds joy in the tech side of theater, where she can create in a different way.
From her first time directing a major stage production more than a decade ago to her current role as assistant director and assistant music director for Itsy Bitsy Broadway's 'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown', Eickhoff-Newberry's journey is a testament to the transformative power of theater. It is a journey that has taken her from the stage as a fetus to the director's chair, and it continues to inspire and captivate her. In my opinion, her story is a reminder of the profound impact that theater can have on our lives, and how it can become a lifelong companion, a second home, and a source of endless creativity and expression.
