By Christy K. Truitt
Addison Garner, formerly of Opelika, would wake each morning in her small New York City apartment at 5 a.m. She’d hurry to a theater casting call, wait in line for hours only to be told at the end of the day to come back tomorrow. Disappointed, she’d return home, only to wake the next day to do it all again.
“I told her to keep getting in line. No matter what anyone tells her. No matter how frustrating. Just keep getting in line,” says her father Trip Garner. She did. And now those hours in line have turned into hours on stages all over the world.
Tamera Garner doesn’t remember a time her daughter didn’t perform. “She was always playing dress-up. This was during a time without a lot of technology, so Addie was always creating. She loved to play waitress and take everybody’s orders. She was an only child for four years, but things changed when her younger siblings were born. I walked in one day to her brother Ben dressed up in a Snow White cos-tume,” says Tamera, laughing. “But it was her performance in the Andalusia Community Theater that really lit the fire.” Addison played the lead role in “Annie” when she was in the fifth grade.
Trip remembers sitting in the back of the theater watching rehearsal, when his daughter climbed up on a table and belted out “The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow,” marveling that this was his little girl. “I teared up,” says Trip.
“I will always look back on my first production with the fondest of memories. My mom and sister were also in the production, and it was a sweet community-wide event. I fell in love with theater when I was 10 years old and knew I felt most at home on stage,” says Addison, 31.
A fuse lit in a community-stage production grew when the family returned to Opelika. Addison participated in all things performance oriented from playing the flute in the marching band to her time as a majorette. Addison was drawn to Opelika High School’s award-winning show choir team as well as participating in the Opelika High School Theater Society under the direction of teacher Revel Gholston. “I will forever be grateful for my time at Opelika High School and the performing opportunities I was able to take part in,” says Addison. “I absolutely love being able to call Opelika home and will always appreciate the beautiful family-oriented upbringing my parents provided.” Addison continued her studies at the University of Mobile where she majored in, of course, musical theater.
Despite a lifetime of performing, Addison still gets a rush of nerves and adrenaline. “My stomach is full of butterflies. I love to start my show day with an early morning run followed by a yummy cup of local coffee. After resting, I head to the theater to warm up and get myself ready for the show. I like to arrive at least an hour before show time so that I never feel rushed,” she says.
Trip and Tamera facetime often with Addison. Tamera keeps a calendar of Addison’s tour dates, and the family sends flowers and balloons.
“We miss her, but try to get to as many performances as we can. When we can’t, we make sure she knows we support her,” says Trip.
Recently, Tamera visited Addison in Los Angeles for Addison’s perfor- mance as Velma in Hairspray at the Dolby Theatre. “There I am, driving down Hollywood Boulevard, and I see a poster of my daughter. Right there an entire country away from our home in Opelika. I almost had to pinch myself. As a parent, you worry about your children’s future. When Addison told me she wanted to make a career in musical theater, I encouraged her to use that dream as Plan B.
I didn’t think you could make a life in entertainment,” says Tamera. “Boy, she sure did prove me wrong.”
East Alabamians will line up once again at the Gogue Performing Arts Center on June 18 and June 20 when Addison returns to the local stage. “We are ecstatic to have Addison return in this national touring production of Come From Away. The Gogue Center and our patrons are always excited anytime our exceptional, home-grown talent returns to perform,” says Christopher Heacox, executive director of The Gogue Performing Arts Center. Tickets are avail- able at goguecenter.auburn.edu or call 334-844-8497.
