She has seen attendees literally dancing in the aisles during a Paul Anka concert, crazy costumes worn by all ages during the Rocky Horror show, a spell-bound audience during Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway and the first-class persona of actor Hal Holbrook, all of which were staged at the College of the Canyons Performing Arts Center (PAC) in Santa Clarita.
The she I’m referring to is Tami Toon and as the Theatre’s Production Manager, she takes her job very seriously. That’s because she sees it as her second home. She spends so much time there, it could be. From early in the morning hours until the last patron leaves the theatre late at night, Toon is on duty seeing to it that everyone and everything is in it’s proper place. Sometimes she works weeks on end without a day off. Her dedication and experience could very well be one of the reasons the center is seeing success in only it’s third year of existence.
“I look out for the overall big picture for the college and the community,” says Toon who has worked there since day one. She wants to see it grow and flourish.
“I’m very protective of the building and so are the other people who work here. We want to keep it looking nice and have a real ownership in it,” says Toon.
Toon studied drama nearly thirty years ago at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts but, soon discovered she liked working backstage better than on stage in the limelight. A 20-year stint at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles followed her graduation where she had her hand in some amazing productions that she will always treasure.
Those moments in time were with legends like Frank Sinatra for whom she was required to carefully line-up cigarettes in their boxes for him so that they could be easily handled while he was on stage and with Lucille Ball who fondly gave Toon the nickname, white tennis shoes.
Toon remembers how, “There was a night when Lucille was having trouble getting the dance step she was working on. She was getting really frustrated and I went over and gave her a hug. It built her confidence and after that you could hear her bark out, ‘Where’s white tennis shoes?’ whenever she needed me.”
And while Toon doesn’t always wear her white tennis shoes today, she, no doubt gives a feel of confidence, like she gave to Lucille Ball, to those she supervises. But, truly it’s her genuine smile and passion for perfection that shines through for all who cross her pathway when attending the theatre.
It will be easy for you to spot the glow of her persona the next time you visit the amazing $18.3 million dollar campus theatre.
