COLUMBUS -- Also an extremely active member of his home theatre, Central region's Licking County Players, Fred Wise has been the official historian of the Ohio Community Theatre Association for more than a decade. Fred was honored into the OCTA Hall of Fame in 2008 for the work he has accomplished for the OCTA History and for the many years he has devoted to theatre.

Q: When did you become the OCTA Historian?
A: In 1996, I was asked by the OCTA Board if I would be their historian since they hadn't had one for a few years.

Q: Why did you become OCTA's Historian?
A: My daughter, Aara Chapman was on the board at the time and mentioned the fact that I was deep into our family genealogy history and that I might be interested in helping in that area. I was asked and volunteered!

Q: What do you like most about being the OCTA Historian?
A: During the research for compiling the OCTA history learned much about the organization, board members, the changes from it's beginning up to the way it's run presently. The many facts, fun and activities the group has done in the past and their plans for the future. One of the most rewarding was compiling the book for OCTA's 50th Anniversary Celebration.

Q: How long have you been doing theater, where did you get your start?
A: As long as I can remember have been doing something pertaining to theater, beginning with playlets in grade school, I took dance lessons for several years, and performed in high school plays and chorus programs. I played in a dance band for many years and did comedy performances professionally with my brother. I've written and directed Minstrel shows for various local organizations. I was also in entertainment while I served in the military producing Army-type camp shows for four years. I've also written and directed variety shows for the Lion's Club of America for more than 17 years to help purchase glasses and guide dogs for their programs.

Q: Have you been on stage, directed, produced, etc?
A: As I said above, did comedy and band work for many years, wrote and directed variety shows in the Military & here in Central Ohio. Like in the past and more recently, have been involved with directing, costuming, set building, props and most everything else required in producing a show except for acting. More into the technical end of theater!

Q: Family members doing theater?
A: My daughter, Aara Chapman (currently a Member-at-Large on OCTA's Board of Directors) is very involved in community and my son and family have also helped with our plays as well. My brother and family have been very active with theater and both of my nieces are very musically inclined being musical directors for plays, pageants, variety shows and their Lodge and Church activities.

Q: What are some of your most memorable occasions?
A:

Being presented special awards for the Army shows I produced;
The many years my brother and I worked together;
Being invited to go to New York for special stage work;
The many people I've met along the way, especially working with the Lion's Club Association;
Compiling the OCTA 50th Anniversary History Book;
Working at my home theater, directing shows and being presented awards for them;
And, of course, being involved with OCTA activities and being presented the President's Award for the "50th Anniversary History".

Q: Anything else you want to share?
A: I guess, as they say:"everything rubs off those you love" and I inherited my love of theater from my Mom. She was very talented and was active in theater during her younger life and a talented soloist and sang many cantatas, musical shows, and in Church. My grandmother, her mother, was very musical as well and could sew a costume out of anything. In fact, she made an award winning costume out of the funny papers.