Fairborn theater owner fulfills dying cousin’s wish

‘You tell him to get on stage when I’m gone.’

Back in 1994 Jim Harworth of Xenia agreed to a request of his cousin Ginger Hunt Mathews, who died of muscular dystrophy at the age of 43.

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Harworth’s effort has led him to Fairborn, where he is the new owner of the Actor’s Theater of Fairborn and director of the theater’s first show in nearly a decade.

John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men” will open the second weekend of November, and Harworth is the first to tell you he’s nervous, excited and very busy. “This building was built in 1921 as a silent picture theater. When I moved in here, it was a mess,” said Harworth. “Upstairs costumes, hats and props were thrown all over the place. I couldn’t even open the door.”

With help from Xenia attorney Kenny Sheets and his wife Cherie, the hats and costumes are hanging, sorted and labeled. But it’s the story that got Harworth to the Actor’s Theater that is worthy of a stage production.

Cousin sent a message

Harworth, owner of Harworth Tire and Auto in Xenia, was very close to his older cousin. “We were both Beatle fans. We went to all the concerts we could.” When she died, Harworth visited her mother, his aunt, and she told him Ginger asked her to convey a message to Harworth. “She said, ‘You tell him to get on stage when I’m gone.’ ” Harworth was puzzled because the thought of being on stage had never entered his mind.

So, he grabbed the phone book and looked under “A” for actor. “I told the guy who answered I had no talent and no experience and how could I get involved in theater,” said Harworth. “Believe it or not, he called me a few months later and I got some small roles in shows.” In fact, Harworth had performed on the Actor’s Theater in Fairborn. “I played Dracula. I was having fun and fulfilling my promise to Ginger.” Harworth even had an agency and acted in several commercials.

By 1999, Harworth had dozens of performances under his belt and decided to quit acting. He threw himself into his business and his health. “I was diagnosed with Type I diabetes, so that took some time to get under control.”

Finder’s keepers

Last year Harworth was returning from a visit to his grandmother’s grave in Piqua when he realized he was lost. “I realized I was in Fairborn, and I recognized the theater. There was a ‘for sale’ sign, and I said to myself ‘I’m going to buy that place.’ ” Harworth bought the theater and began working on it Jan. 1 of this year. He’s been painting, wallpapering and preparing the place to produce some live theater.

“I could have taken collegiate courses on theater management and not learned half of what I’ve learned since buying this place. It’s really been something,” he said. Originally, he wanted to produce “Dracula” around Halloween time. “With Foy’s here in town, Halloween is huge around here. I thought it would have been great.” But Harworth didn’t want to direct the production and couldn’t find a director. “So, we’re doing another favorite show of mine, ‘Of Mice and Men.’ ”

Harworth’s cast includes Harry Sheperd of West Carrollton, Roi Miller of Dayton, Dan Donahue, a retired Xenia police officer, Joseph Donahue of Xenia, Jennifer Clemens of Oxford, Matt Shober of Fairborn and Kenny Sheets of Xenia.

Harworth is having fun, working hard and between his day job and the theater doesn’t have time to worry about things. “Like they say in the theater, ‘The show must go on.’ ”

Contact this contributing writer at pgmcginnis45419@yahoo.com.

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