RUSHVILLE —

If it’s possible to have a multiple personality disorder and be completely sane then Lisa Boaz would be thus diagnosed. She has more than 50 known, unique personalities — some with names that might sound familiar. Her aliases and multiple personalities include Eliza Doolittle, a humble cockney flower girl turned student of phonetics professor Henry Higgins, last seen during “My Fair Lady”; Eva Peron, second wife of President Juan Peron and First Lady of Argentina from 1946 until her passing in 1952, also answers to the name “Evita”; Lucy Harris, a lady of some ill-repute, but kind-hearted temperament working at a dingy pub known as the Red Rat who becomes the tragic victim of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”; and my Momma (as this writer was her daughter in a show many moons ago) or properly M’Lynn Eatenton, who loses her grown daughter to complications from diabetes in the tale of “Steel Magnolias.” Eliza, Eva, M’Lynn and Lucy are not figments of Lisa’s imagination, they are characters in plays that she has lived and breathed in a community theatre career that spans more than 20 years with Rushville’s own Rush County Players. “I have directed, produced, assisted, acted, choreographed, critiqued and/or otherwise been involved in over 50 productions,” Lisa said. “When I was little I would sit glued to performance shows like ‘Sonny and Cher,’ ‘Donny and Marie’ and ‘Tony Orlando and Dawn.’ I also loved the skit comedy of ‘The Carol Burnett Show’ and others like it. Make believe, for me, usually involved dressing up in whatever I could find, acting out what I saw on TV and singing along at the top of my lungs to my parent’s 45’s on my little box record player. Other than the technology, some things don’t change much.” Lisa started doing plays and musicals in seventh grade. After high school, she worked with the First Nighters group in New Castle and the Guyer Opera House in Lewisville. “I love community theatre because it gives anyone and everyone the opportunity to express themselves artistically. Whether you choose to sing, dance, act, paint, sew, build, direct, write or whatever — there is a way you can be involved in a production and reap the rewards of entertaining an audience. Everyone is welcome.” Lisa was cast in her first RCP production of “Fiddler on the Roof.” “I was fortunate enough to work with some of Rush County’s finest. People like Jeff Hufford, Marcia Blair, Edna Moster, Nancy Mitchell, Faith Ellison, Muriel Moore and so many others welcomed me with open arms and after that I was hooked,” she said. Lisa said that as with any group there are ebbs and flows and ups and downs in membership and attendance with RCP. She currently serves as treasurer on the board of directors under President Chante Wells and Vice President Matt Amos. In the past, Lisa has worn the shoes of all the board positions. RCP was started by some “amazingly talented people more than 35 years ago and we want to do all we can to make it last another 35 years or more,” she said. Lisa is currently taking on the multi-tasking role of director in RCP’s production of “Daughters of the Lone Star State.” The curtain will rise on this show at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5 and 6 with a matinee performance at 2 p.m. Nov. 7 at they new Milroy Elementary School. Daughters is a two-act comedy that tells the story of 11 women from Lowakey, Texas the day before Christmas Eve during their annual society meeting. The old group is dying out, literally, so this year’s effort to attract members is all out. The privileged women’s mission is to help the underprivileged; however, their judgment of anyone not old, white and privileged creates a funny and biting play that is a challenge for an all-female cast. RCP also has a second show in the works, “Godspell,” which takes the stage at the Rushville American Legion at 8 p.m. Sept. 24 and 25 and 2 p.m. Sept. 26. “I hope to be able to participate in the next show, ‘A Joyful Noise Part II - How Sweet the Sound,’” Lisa said. “I was in ‘A Joyful Noise’ part one and it allowed me and my family to bring together the two things we enjoy most, our faith in God and our ability to sing His praises, and doing it while performing to an audience! My girls, who are also drama queens and show-offs like their momma, can’t wait for the kids show ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.’ I have always believed that having a strong kids’ program will help ensure the future of RCP. I mean, we are getting older, and just as the reins were passed to us we have to pass them on to the next generation.” Even though Lisa resides in Fayette County presently, she lived more than a decade in Rush County, does 95 percent of her business and shopping here, and her mother lives here. She has been an administrative assistant for 10 years with RushShelby Energy and is a member of Plum Creek Christian Church where she was baptized a little more than a year ago. As for the many characters Lisa has played with RCP, they are and will continue to be a part of her and her life, exemplifying the pseudo multiple personality disorder that seems to follow most actors. When the show ends, the characters, story and friendships made during the long weeks and at times late hours of rehearsals live on. Former cast members will meet at the fair or out at a local restaurant and immediately the dialogue, accents, personality and presence of the shared characters will return to life — exchanging greetings in-character as if they have never left the stage. Lisa says RCP has become so much a part of her life that, “It’s become something I’m recognized with it and it’s recognized with me.” “I’m a big, cheesy ham,” Lisa said. Juggling her theatre activities with an already busy life can be hard, but she says, “I’m lucky to have my mom and husband, Gary. You learn to adapt and the things that need to be let go get let go. Rush County Players is huge in my life.” Lisa has been married to Gary Boaz for 17 years and has two daughters, Elly and Lacie. She also is involved with the American Legion Auxiliary. “My father was a 23-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force so patriotism is very important to me, and supporting what our troops do and what our military does.” She also cherishes her girlfriends. “No matter how old you are you never outgrow your girlfriends and they are a huge support system in my life,” Lisa said. Has local fame ever made her wonder if a day would come when she might take a chance on doing a big-time show on Broadway? “I’ve always thought about it,” Lisa said, “that was always my dream but I admit I was too cowardly to run off on my own. I did the responsible thing and got a job and stayed at home, but yes, I’ve always wanted to perform big time. To be in ‘Wicked’ would be the ultimate. That would be my dream part.” Could it be that Lisa Boaz has her 51st multiple personality/part waiting in the wings? When you run into her and she begins to say things with no provocation whatsoever that make absolutely no sense, just know it’s probably a line from a show inspired by a memory only those who share in the theatre experience can completely understand. From the many personalities of Lisa: “Her colors are pink and pink.” — M’Lynn Eatenton “Each day’s a brand new life.” — Lucy Harris “I wash me face ‘n’ hands before I come, I did.” — Eliza Doolittle In closing, Lisa says (or is it Evita who says), “have I said too much? There’s nothing more I can think of to say to you. But all you have to do is look at me to know, that every word is true.” Close curtain.