People profile: Dave Siklosi

This article was originally published in the Daily Post Athenian in Athens, Tennessee on May 9, 2017.

I’ve known Dave Siklosi all my life. He’s been a fixture in – and has built fixtures for – Athens Community Theatre (ACT) as long as I can remember and, in fact, as long as the volunteer theatre troupe has existed. It never occurred to me, though, to ask him how he got his start. Dave’s response is a charming story about portraying George Washington in his second grade class’s performance of “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” He wore the costume worn by his father, Albert, in 1930 for an elementary school patriotic tableau. If you know Dave, it will come as no surprise that he still has that General Washington costume, and both his daughters used it as a Halloween costume.

That’s not exactly the whole story, however. Dave’s wife, Karen, set the record straight by messaging me just after my conversation with Dave: “He just thought he told you the story of his life. He left out the beginning – his birth announcement. Talk about foreshadowing!” she remarked. What followed was a pic message of a soft blue ticket with vintage “Broadway” typeface reading “Claire and Al Siklosi present, It’s a Boy, starring David Siklosi.” It’s evident where Dave gets his wit, and the story about the General Washington costume (that will likely remain in the Siklosi family for a century) offers a clue about the source of Dave’s resourcefulness – both of which have served ACT greatly over the years.

Dave moved to Athens fresh out of law school in 1980, knowing few people. When he confided in his mentor CT Ziegler, that he was interested in starting a community theatre, Mr. Ziegler connected him with Sue Trotter, who was the original Executive Director of Athens Area Council for the Arts (and is the namesake of our current Black Box Theater). Dave remembers Ms. Trotter as warm and encouraging as she put him in touch with John Crooks (former editor of the Daily Post Athenian) and Ellen Kimball who were working to form a theatre group. Dave’s entrance into the conversation seemed to be the catalyst to get the effort off the ground.

On August 1 and 2 of 1980, ACT presented its first production, Mary, Mary, starring Ellen Kimball and Dave Siklosi. In the early years, Dave primarily participated as an actor, relying on the only acting instruction he has ever really received, this keen advice from his mother: “When you are on stage be sure to speak loudly, speak clearly, and speak to the audience as much as you can.”

Over time, Dave began to assist ACT’s chief construction volunteer, Jim Powell. Dave is a mostly self-taught handy man. He grew up watching his grandfather build small furniture in the half of his garage he devoted to a woodshed. And halfway through law school he took a 9-month break to work for minimum wage as a construction worker to fund the rest of his degree. He’s applied the skills he learned at his grandfather’s side, and on that construction crew, to teach himself how to create the worlds that help community theatre transport audiences.

Dave has built sets for three decades for ACT and Etowah’s Gem Players. He spent about ten years creating backdrops for the Optimist’s Distinguished Young Woman program. He’s also lent his handy man skills to Helping Hands Ministries and Habitat for Humanity. He has built with Habitat locally, nationally, and internationally, and looks forward to a Habitat “build” with his wife Karen in Romania this fall.

Of all the environments Dave has created, his favorite is the set for Gem Players’ Oliver, in which his youngest daughter, Katie, played the title role. He remembers fondly Into the Woods, when he collaborated with Melonie Carideo and G. David Brown to do some “clever things” such as figuring out a way to make a Giant’s foot fall on a distressed damsel. On stage Dave has played kings, presidents, villains, and ordinary men.

His all time favorite role was bringing life to the ghost of Sir John Barrymore in ACT’s 2014 production I Hate Hamlet. It should be noted that he learned lines, fight choreography, and rehearsed for a lead role while constructing a multi-level apartment on the Black Box Stage.

Since he retired from law three years ago, Dave has made a second home of The Arts Center. “I don’t know which end of a golf club to hold, and I couldn’t catch an Asian carp in the Illinois River. But I’ve had great fun trying to figure out how to build safe and adequate set pieces for the ACT on a shoestring; using recycled boards (which keep getting shorter and shorter), and re-re-recycled utility screws until the heads are a mangled mass.”

It’s this devotion to our cause that inspired AACA Executive Committee to name an award after Dave. On Saturday he received The Dave Siklosi Golden Hammer Award “In recognition of creative and resourceful sculpting, and bringing life to theatre through materials, illusion, and imagination.”

It’s the second time an AACA award has been named in honor of an individual. The first award is particularly special to me, as I remember watching my dad, for whom it is named, receive the first “G. David Brown Roadie Award for Endearing Service to AACA.” I was honored Saturday to present that award to two young men who embody the same commitment to our mission, and willingness to work hard to bring life to their dreams as do Dave and G. David.

AACA will celebrate our 40th anniversary in 2019. It’s no secret to us that we have been able to enrich the quality of life in our community for nearly four decades because of the steadfast support of our volunteers, members, patrons, local government, corporate sponsors, and support from Tennessee Arts Commission and local foundations such as the C. Scott & Muriel Mayfield Family Foundation.

I’ve been known to say it and it’s absolutely true: We’re here for you, and we’re here because of you. The thing about receiving such overwhelming support is that it makes it particularly challenging to select a few people to receive annual awards. The common theme among this year’s winners is that they work diligently and with passion – often behind the scenes – to further AACA’s mission.

Art Kimball reflected on Dave’s contributions to ACT when he presented the “Dave Siklosi Golden Hammer Award” to the eponymous set constructor – “the most magical part about the sets he creates,” Art mused, “is that you might not even notice them. They’re there and they’re beautiful, but if you don’t see them that’s further proof he’s done his job right , because you’re so immersed in the world he’s created.”