William Wills discovered his life's calling to the tune of "Seventy-Six Trombones" when he auditioned for "The Music Man" in college.
"I didn't go over to audition for the show, I went to give a friend support. But I noticed that there were cute girls, so I said, 'Oh what the heck, it might be fun, a good way to meet people' - just a thing you do in college," William said. "But during the Sunday matinee in the middle of the 'Seventy-Six Trombones' dance number, the audience broke into applause. At that moment, there was a feeling of electricity that shot through me, and from that time I knew there was nothing I wanted to do but theater."
William and his wife, Sue, will perform as former President Theodore and former First Lady Edith Roosevelt in "Presidents and their First Ladies, Dramatically Speaking," as part of the Bush Museum Issues Forum.
William said the original purpose of the program was to show that the names in history books were real people. He said that while the program discusses presidential policy, it centers on the relationship between presidents and first ladies.
"We just wanted to let people see the personal side of the people they had read about," William said.
The Wills control all aspects of production. William researches and writes the scripts and handles business, while Sue edits the scripts, makes costumes and does make-up.
Members of the community have been looking forward to the Wills' performance, said Brian Blake, director of public relations for the George Bush Presidential Library Complex.
"William and Sue have been here several years in the past, and their programs have been really popular in the community," Blake said. "They appear in period costumes and not only talk about the president and first lady, but become the president and first lady."
And as for the Wills' favorite first couple?
"Sue likes Mary Lincoln. I guess if I had to choose I would have to say Theodore Roosevelt," Wills said.
Amanda Urrutia, administrative assistant for the Bush Museum, said reservations have already been requested by schools and the general public.
"(The community) knows about (the Wills) and loves the performances they put together," Urrutia said. "The community always looks forward to having them here."
This will be the Wills' fourth performance in College Station. Performances will be at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday at the Bush Library and is free of charge.
"I really enjoy doing all of them because I get to say such wonderful things ... at one time or another, they all said such wonderful things," William said.
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