Founder
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Sue Lukasiewicz Biography Sketch
By: Maria L. Goldsmith Name: Sara D. (Danzis) Lukasiewicz (Sue) |
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Early Years
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Sue was born in
New
York City on
Feb. 11, 1931,
daughter
of Harold
&
Lena (Erlandsen) Danzis. It was during these early years
living in the City of Lights and home of Broadway that Sue’s passion for the
arts & theatre began. Every Sunday the entire family would visit
planetariums, museums, art galleries and local theatres. Theatre
was also in Sue’s blood, as her father had been an off-and on vaudevillian. In
1944, her family moved to Troy, leaving Manhattan and all of its big city
activities for a small-town. This was a difficult transition for Sue. But the
special Sunday family days continued and soon Sue was at home in Troy. Sue fondly remembered these times and these
special Sunday family days would always be a big part of Sue’s life.
Sue graduated from Troy High School and completed her education at New York University and the former Albany State Teachers College. In her undergraduate studies, Sue majored in English and minored in theatre. Her master’s degree was from NYU in theatre Education. Sue was involved with the University’s theatre productions both as an actress and a director. Other theatre experience included studying techniques of arena theatre at Fordham University and working with the Westchester County Playhouse. In 1955, Sue started her career in the teaching arena in the Galway Central School District where she taught high school English. That same year, there was another young educator, Richard Lukasiewicz, teaching music, They soon met and Sue knew immediately that Richard was the man for her. The following year, on April 1st they married. Sue and Richard were married 52 years and had 4 children, Susan, Christina, Amy, and Peter. Besides now raising a family, teaching English at Galway Central School and then 14 years at Perth Central School, Sue was always keeping her self busy. During summers. she worked for the New York State Education Department writing Regents English exams. During all of this her interest in theatre never faded. |
Theatre Career
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Sue’s love of
theatre drove her to learn as much about theatre as possible. Family was always
top priority, but Sue and Richard would regularly attend the Saratoga opera,
ballet, orchestra and theatre events throughout the years. She
read
constantly about the history of theatre and the performing arts and was a
frequent audience member at local community, NYC and several other cities’
theatre venues. While enjoying
the performances,
she
would watch the audience and take notes of what worked and did not work. She
would use these tools later during her future years as a director.
In 1968, Sue Lukasiewicz pursued her passion for theatre and accepted an offer from the Galway PTA to stage a play as a unique fund raiser. This first production was “George Washington Slept Here” and received overwhelming praise from the community. Based on this outpouring of support, Sue founded the Galway Players. This was the start of bringing annual family drama and comedy productions to the community. After a few years, Richard helped Sue in bringing musicals to the venue. These were initially performed on the Galway Elementary stage, kiddingly known as the “café-toruim”. In 1976 and for several years thereafter, Sue expanded the Galway Players shows to the Perth Central School. Monies from the tickets were donated to each school for scholarships, stage, lighting and sound improvements. In 1987, Sue lobbied for a proper auditorium to be built in the Galway Central School. She stated in a Gazette article “I am praying from my toenails up to the top of my head that the proposition gets passed”. The contributions from the Galway Players to Galway Central School were instrumental in making this happen and the building of the High School Auditorium and Stage began. Galway Players & Galway Youth Theatre moved their productions to this new stage allowing for a larger cast and bigger productions, thus expanding this theatre experience to more people and to other Capital District communities. Sue was also a playwright and Gazette correspondent. She was recognized for her contributions in this area in the article “Sue Lukasiewicz of Galway Players Is Director, Writer and Sparkplug. Sue’s “Putting it Together”, announced in the Gazette’s “Galway Players Slate Auditions for New Musical”, “Steppin Out”, and “An Old Fashioned Christmas” were performed by the Galway Players in 1982, 85 and 87. In 1998, “Enchanted Toys” was performed by the Galway Players Youth Theatre and started a whole new generation of theatre performers and lovers. |
Director Years (Galway Players and Beyond)
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Sue founded the Galway Players in 1968 and over the next 40 years would direct 42 adult family and several youth theatre productions. Galway Players was a large part of Sue’s life. Directing for Sue was a not a seasonal part-time job. She reviewed many plays each year before deciding on a venue. For every play Sue directed, she would do months of research to understand the play’s time period, ensuring the accuracy of dialects, costumes, sets, and properties. She would attend other theatre’s performances of the play for ideas she could incorporate into her production. She always felt it was important for every aspect of the show to be authentic to the story and that she understood how audiences would react to the play and characters before finalizing her vision. This vision would at times include special effects when pertinent to the story, like snow, rain, smoke, bubbles, and yes even flying. She always said “If anything is worth doing, it should be done right”.
Galway Players also became a big part of Sue’s family’s lives. Her husband (Richard) would help with the music and play in the pit and all of her children and grandchildren were involved in various roles: performing, designing, building & decorating sets, cutting cardboard, or supporting whatever efforts were needed. Sue would even contribute to the painting of sets, but always said “My painting talents are slapping paint on a wall with no artistic nature”. Sue always believed, the Galway Players was a community family and it would be impossible to continue the productions without the support and talents of all involved. Most people involved with Sue’s plays (cast & crew) felt this was true. It was a family atmosphere and everyone would become a part of the team, was treated with respect, encouraged to do their best and politely told when they did not. Every year, Sue would welcome the new members and say “Your first year is a freebie, if you come back, you are mine”. It was important to Sue that the Galway Players be a teaching organization in all aspects of theatre as well as a performing group. Sue would accommodate all who wanted to become part of the action, whether on stage or behind the scenes. It was part of the culture that actors worked and techies acted, which made this community theatre group different. Anyone could go to Sue with an idea, but be careful. If she liked it, she would be quick to accept and then tell you “It’s your idea so go do it and make it happen”. Sue understood people’s lives were busy and wanted to ensure everyone had an opportunity to experience theatre. Sue remembered her special Sunday family days surrounded by the arts. What better way to keep her traditions alive and to make theatre accessible to all then to make rehearsals only be on Sundays. There were little school activities, keeping conflicts to a minimal and of course these would start after Church. This meant attendance at rehearsals was a premium. She once said “We operate under a little code, if you miss a rehearsal or don’t do well, next year you do props”. Sue felt it was also important for the Galway Players to have a close relationship with the Galway High School and the Board of Education. Proceeds from the shows would go to buying lighting and sound equipment, which was then donated to the school. Other donations were made to fund purchases of a piano, sound board, and curtains, and any set, costume or prop paid, built and created by the Galway Players were given or made available to the student theatre organization. In return, the school board wouldn’t charge the Galway Players any rental for use of the school for rehearsals and performances and allowed them use of the shop equipment for building. It was from the beginning that this relationship was formed to allow the community to enjoy many hours of theatre education and entertainment at an affordable family price and is what also made the Galway Players a unique and different theatre organization. In 1984, Sue was proud that the Galway Players now had a functioning Children’s Theatre. The Galway Youth Theatre was a great opportunity for children to learn about and get involved in theatre, acting, singing and dancing. Many of these young performers would go on to participate in the High School Drama, Galway Players and other community theatre group performances, as well as make theatre, dancing or music their career. This was also an opportunity for adults to gain experience in directing, producing and choreography. Sue directed several of the earlier children’s plays but was happy that others had the skills and interest to start directing the Youth Theatre and she would became a consultant. Sue also directed or consulted on plays for other theatre groups, like the Colonial Playhouse. Throughout her teaching career she would contribute her time and teachings to the high school drama plays. She would even direct plays at Galway High School as she stated “when they couldn’t find anyone else”. This was all part of Sue’s big plan, to bring the love and experience of theatre to everyone. |
Achievements
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In 1993, Sue was named a Galway PTSA Honorary Life Member for her dedication to enriching the lives of the children in the Galway community. This award was very special to Sue as her husband, Richard, had received this award about 35 years earlier. Three years later in 1996, John Jablonski, a writer for The Recorder, wrote a profile on Sue titled “Golden Age Sentinel". He asked Sue “Who has been the greatest influence on your life?” Without hesitation Sue responded “My Father. It was he who gave me the confidence in my early years to believe in myself, that I could achieve anything I wanted by working hard for it. With the help of God, I have done that.” She mentioned a phase of her father’s instructions that rung in hers ears throughout her life, “It’s not how great an amount of talent you have or how smart you are that’s of importance. What is important is how you apply what you have. That is what makes the difference between success and failure.” Well Sue definitely applied her talents wisely. She used her skills and abilities to bring the joy of theatre and the understanding of all of its complexities to Galway and its extend community family. She instilled into many people the same confidence and hard work she learned from her father.
Sue retired from the Galway Players in 2007 and her legacy lived on. During her tenure, Galway Players instituted a scholarship, which was presented to a graduating senior each year for their contributions to the Galway Players and Galway High School Drama. In 2010, this scholarship was renamed the Sue Lukasiewicz Theatre Scholarship. Upon her retirement she was recognized by the Saratoga County Arts Council and given “The Lifetime Achievement Award” for her commitment to the arts and thereby elevating the awareness, knowledge, and sensitivity of the arts to new levels of appreciation for all. She also received the New York State Assembly Citation in honor of all of her contributions. Sue’s love of the theatre, hard work and enthusiasm stretched far beyond her immediate and theatre families. The impact she had on the community and the people she influenced over the years is evident in the many people, young and old, whose careers or personal activities now center around the theatre. She was a mentor to many of us and encouraged many to do things they never thought possible. To Sue, “All the world’s indeed a stage”. |
Memorial
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It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved founder on May 27, 2015 . Sue, may your spirit ever bless our stage and the many stages your influences have reached. Please rest peacefully and enjoy the glory of your hard work and love.
The Galway Players eulogy for Sue eloquently portrays how Sue touched so many people’s lives in so many different ways. Other related articles: Sue is Director, Writer & Sparkplug: “Sue Lukasiewicz of Galway Players Is Director, Writer and Sparkplug”. Playwright: “Galway Players Slate Auditions for New Musical” |
