Life & Work with Julie Resh of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Resh.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Harmony Theatre began in 2023 after the closure of another theatre company that served the Roswell and Marietta areas of greater Atlanta. At our inception, we brought a board with us that had worked together for over ten years and produced over 20 high-caliber shows. We have continued this tradition at our current location, Mt. Zion UMC in Marietta, Georgia. We produce two shows a year…a play in March and a musical in July. A live orchestra accompanies the musicals. We have overcome obstacles, such as performing in a non-theatrical space. All of our leadership team, actors, construction crew, designers, and orchestra are volunteers.

We pride ourselves on being a teaching theatre, including participants who have little or no experience on stage or behind the scenes. While our plays mainly utilize adults, our summer musicals encourage families to take part in the productions. We love that we often have family members on stage together. Beginning in 2025, we have partnered with local high schools and invited a student director to assist with our summer musicals. This provides them with the opportunity to learn what it is like to direct and manage a community theatre production, particularly with a large cast.

In addition to our performances, Harmony assists Mt. Zion UMC with in-service sketches and small productions for church events. Additionally, some of our leadership team have led pantomimes performed by the children of Mt. Zion during their worship services. Harmony is also involved in outreach, having gone Christmas caroling at assisted living facilities in the area. We are blessed to have the support of Mt. Zion UMC in every aspect of what we do. For more information about harmony Theatre, please visit our website at www.harmonytheatrega.org.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Restarting a theatre company is time-consuming and a bit nerve-racking at times. As the Artistic Director, I have to manage not only the direction of the productions, but also the set and costume designs, creating the programs for each production, organizing the yearly schedule, and working with the church administration to facilitate rehearsals and performances. However, having come from an environement that was met with many, many road blocks, working with Mt. Zion UMC has been a breeze!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Currently, I serve as the Artistic Director for Harmony Theatre. I minored in theatre and music while studying psychology in undergraduate college. During the first two years post-college, I performed with a semi-professional theatre company in Texas, after which I returned to graduate school in Georgia. Even though I pursued a doctorate in clinical psychology (2003) and not theatre or music, I remained involved in those areas, mainly performing in a choir and a small ensemble group and teaching children about set/prop design during a summer musical theatre camp. In 2006, I returned to the stage in the lead role of a musical. In 2027, I took on my first costuming position for my daughter’s elementary school’s production of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast”. Since then, I have costumed numerous productions, including “Oklahoma”, “Willy Wonka”, “Lend Me a Soprano”, and “Clue: the Musical”. Additionally, I began to design sets for production, such as “The Sound of Music”, “Bye Bye Birdie”, and “Harvey”. As time went on, I took on directing plays, such as “Oscar & Felix: A New Look at the Odd Couple”, “The Importance of Being Earnest”, and “Steel Magnolias”. When we opened Harmony Theatre in 2023, I took on the role of not only directing the plays but also directing musicals. Since then, I have directed productions of “Cinderella”, “Camelot”, and “Little Shop of Horrors”. Currently, I am directing the musical “1776” and have an upcoming production of “Putnam County 25th Annual Spelling Bee”. In addition to working with Harmony Theatre, I serve on the board of CenterStage North (also based in Marietta, Georgia) as their set and costume design consultant. I am extremely proud of the quality of work I have been able to produce on limited budgets and limited resources. I love challenging my mind to think outside the box to create props and costumes, often utilizing things in unconventional ways. As my husband has said, there is nothing I cannot make out of pool noodles.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Patience. When working with people from a wide variety of backgrounds, levels of experience, and a wide range of ages, patience is a necessity. When directing, I always try to treat actors as I would like to be treated when I am in their position. This involves not only critiquing their work, but balancing that with compliments as well. I feel you must always be mindful of how you approach actors and all the others involved in productions. I try to keep a smile on my face, temper the tone of my voice, and encourage everyone to have fun. This allows me to get the best from the performers and backstage crew.

Pricing:

• Tickets range from $15 for general admission to $25 for reserved seats

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.harmonytheatrega.org/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyTheatreGA