Updated: 5:25 p.m., Oct. 5, to include funeral information
A light has gone out on Augusta’s stage.
Debi Ballas, The Augusta Players’ executive and artistic director emeritus, died peacefully at her home Oct. 4 after a lengthy illness, according to Scott Seidl, executive director of the Augusta Players.
Ballas led the Augusta Players for 19 seasons.
She debuted with the Augusta Players as Mama Rose in the 1992 production of “Gypsy.” She reprised her role in 2001 and again in February 2010. Other Augusta Players’ credits include Mary Magdalene in “Jesus Christ Superstar,” the stepmother in “Cinderella,” Eva Peron in “Evita,” Clairee in “Steel Magnolias” and Dolly Levi in “Hello Dolly!” according to her biography from the Augusta Players.
She also performed in cabaret evenings of Broadway songs in a show called “Debi Does Ellis” and was Mrs. Beckoff in “Torch Song Trilogy Part III,” and “Widows and Children First” at Le Chat Noir.
She made her directorial debut in 1999 with a production of “A Christmas Carol.”
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Nicole Swanson has many memories with Ballas.
Under Ballas, Swanson directed the Augusta Junior Players and performed her all-time favorite role as the title character in “Peter Pan.”
“It’s such a huge loss,” said Swanson.
All of the members of the Swanson family worked on stage with Ballas at some point. Her daughter Lily was “Annie,” daughters Piper and Abby were in “A Christmas Carol.” Her husband Mark was in “Evita.”
“She had a great eye for what looked good on stage,” Nicole Swanson said.
Carrie Anderson is another performer who worked with Ballas.
“When I was her choreographer on one of her shows, it was magical. We laughed that we got into each other’s minds and could see what the other could envision to create a musical that was fluid and magical,” Anderson wrote from a cruise ship via text message. “Debi’s attention to detail was unparalleled. For a show, she researched everything from the time period down from your posture and dialect to the appropriate footwear. As a director, Debi made you feel that you as an actor could conquer the world. She could say one thing and your entire character could evolve into a three dimensional being. She loved all of her actors from the background chorus member to her leads. She demanded perfection from all of us and her shows reflected that.”
Ballas not only brought her artistic talents, but her business acumen to the theater group.
“Debi is the reason that The Augusta Players not only still existsq but continues to grow and thrive. At a time when the organization faced the possibility of having to close its doors 25 years ago, it was Debi and her dear friend Richard Justice that saved The Players. She has been and always will be a vital part of the DNA of The Players. Her contributions cannot be overstated. In so many ways, she was and will continue to be the heart of the organization,” according to a statement from the Augusta Players’ staff and board of directors.
But she was more than just a great director and performer, she cared about the people in her Augusta Players’ family.
“She treated everyone like they were special to her,” Swanson said. “She was a vibrant part of the community and a force.”
Anderson echoed Swanson.
“Debi Ballas was more than my director, she was a second mom to me. She was the one who originally got me back into theatre when I moved to Augusta over 20 years and adopted me, Justin, (daughter) Courtney and (son) Scott into her family. She was my friend, my mentor, the one I turned to when I needed advice, encouragement or sometimes a much needed swift ‘kick in the pants.’ There were numerous late nights drinking tea at her kitchen table into the wee hours of the morning. Justin always laughed that when I went over to her house at lunch for a one hour “production meeting,” I’d be home around midnight.
Brenda Durant, the executive director the Greater Augusta Arts Council, met Ballas years before either of them worked in their respective arts organizations.
Ballas, who was named the arts council’s arts professional of the year in 2018, and Durant had daughters in “The Nutcracker” together in the 1980s.
“I recruited her to put eyeliner on the dancers,” she said.
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Durant said Ballas had a steady hand as she put the liner on their faces.
When Durant asked Ballas what she did for a living, Ballas replied, “I’m a singer,” but it sounded more like – “I’m a sing-ah,” Durant said imitating Ballas.
Ballas retired from the Augusta Players in 2017 to focus on her health and family, and the group gave her a gala sendoff in February of that year. The organization has established an annual scholarship in her name.
According to her bio, her greatest achievement was as a “wife, mother and Yiayia to her loving and supportive family.”
She worked with her husband, Chuck, at Luigi’s restaurant for many years. They have three daughters, Penelope Ballas Stewart, Claudia Ballas Latch and Bebe Ballas Kent.
The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. Visitation with Trisagion service will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Platt’s Funeral Home, Belair Road.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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