The spectrum article

The Spectrum
Making an impact: LaVerkin woman involved in theater, photography, family, more
BY BRIAN PASSEY
bpassey@thespectrum.com
Christy Webb of LaVerkin is always up for a challenge. If there's something that interests her, she does it.
"Every day we're just getting older," she says. "One of these days we won't be able to do them."
She recently began playing the guitar again, something she hasn't done in a couple of decades. She also just began her own portrait business, Webb Photography.
That's on top of raising six children and remaining involved in the LaVerkin Community Theater, which she founded about seven years ago. As the founder, Webb would often write and direct the plays, as well as sew many of the costumes herself.
She also loves to cook.
"She is the best cook I know," says Nicholas Wolsleger, who works for Webb at the photo studio. "I've never eaten as good as I do at her house."
Bill Brown, who is taking over many of the administrative duties for the community theater while Webb gets her photography business off the ground, says his family has also spent a lot of time eating at Webb's house. He says Webb has been easy to work with in the theater.
Webb says she believes God put people are on this earth to live and we're not really living if we aren't trying new things.
She's not one of those people that just likes science and math or only thrives on writing and the arts. She loves it all.
Webb says people can be good at anything they devote themselves to, which is why she devotes herself to many things.
Hitchhiking
Originally from Salt Lake City, Webb also spent three years in Mexico as a child. Her mother is Mexican so they lived in a poor fishing village where Webb attended school on the beach. Her teacher used the sand like a chalkboard.
However, the three years in Mexico were difficult because Webb did not know any Spanish when she moved there.
"We learned to speak Spanish basically by being immersed in it," she says.
Webb says she is grateful she had the opportunity to live there because it taught her about the differences in peoples and cultures.
She tries to pass on that understanding to her children. She and Joe have been married 19 years and have six kids, ages 8 to 18.
Each month they choose a different country they want to learn about. Then they immerse themselves in elements of that country, including cooking food from each place.
"I think it's important for my kids to know how big this world really is," she says. "Hopefully one day they'll go out there and explore it."
Webb studied at both Salt Lake Community College and Dixie State College. She actually met her husband while hitchhiking.
She was living in Salt Lake City at the time but had a boyfriend in St. George. The boyfriend called and broke up with her over the phone. Upset about the method of breakup, Webb decided to go to St. George and talk with him, but she needed a ride.
A friend put her in touch with Joe, a man she didn't know but one who would become her husband.
"We got to know each other on the drive," she says. "His car broke down in Beaver. We had to hitchhike to the gas station to call his dad to come get us."
They became quick friends but did not start dating until a year later. Finally two years after they first met the couple married.
She says they have been blessed with a great family, including six "smart and mindful" children.
Photography
Webb and her husband, a computer programmer, share a passion for photography. They often go on hikes together where he uses his talents to capture the beauty of nature.
Her photography usually happens inside her studio at 204 S. State St. in LaVerkin. They started the business, Webb Photography, about two months ago.
On their Web site, PhotoByWebb.com, his scenic photography is shown next to her portraits.
"I think it's so important for your spouse to be your best friend," she says.
She spends about an hour with each client or family, taking about 300 photos during that time. She then posts the best pictures online for her clients to examine. They pick out the ones they like, with no pressure to buy, she says.
Webb says it's important for her to get to know her clients so they are more than just a number. She thinks the personal nature of their interactions helps her reveal the clients' personalities in the photographs.
"I'm not your run-of-the-mill portrait photographer," she says. "I want to get the character and personality of the people. ... I want to see that sparkle in their eyes.'
Like playing the guitar, photography was a former passion that she recently reignited.
Aside from photographing people, Webb says she also enjoys animal photography.
Theater
The Webbs moved to LaVerkin eight years ago, in part because her husband's family lived here. Webb says they really wanted to get out of the snow and out of the city.
Webb says she likes small towns better because they are safer and friendlier. With her involvement in the community through the theater, she feels a part of her new home.
"I think we've made our own little footprint here," she says. "I think we've made an impact with our theater."
About a year after moving to LaVerkin, Webb discovered little theater in the community building. Aside from occasional community events, the stage didn't get much use.
"It almost seemed sad," she says.
So Webb approached the city about putting on a play. From there the project snowballed and became a regular community theater.
They have consistently produced three or four family-friendly plays each year. She sees the plays a means to introduce more people to the arts. Because they are free, those who can't afford to visit Tuacahn or even St. George Musical Theater can catch a show.
"I see it as a service to the community," she says. "Community theater is my love."
Yet it's not just the LaVerkin community that benefits. Webb says patrons have come from as far as Las Vegas and Salt Lake City to see their shows.
The theater is located in the community building at 111 S. Main St. in LaVerkin. Webb says an eventual goal is to build a new theater building.
Because the shows are free, the budget is extremely tight. This means they often cannot afford the rights to many shows. Instead, Webb takes familiar theatrical stories and writes her own plays based on the basic plot or the central characters. She may choose to tell the back-story of one character or turn the villain into the hero.
The community theater is preparing for a show based on Don Quixote in May. Webb says they invite anyone with an interest in theater - even if it's simply an interest in learning more about theater - to stop by and contribute.
"Everyone's invited," she says. "It truly is a community theater."