Lisbon family lost its home in a Jan. 31 fire

AUBURN – Within days of a fire that consumed a Lisbon family’s home – leaving them with nothing but the clothes on their backs – e-mails and messages began circulating among the leaders of Community Little Theatre.

A family of their own, Ray Siegler and Shirley Bernier, lost its home. To the Auburn-based theater company, there seemed only one response: put on a show.

“We had already decided that the theme to our production of ‘Godspell’ would be homelessness,” said Rachel Morin, spokeswoman for the Community Little Theatre. Plans were in the works for donations to Hope Haven and the St. Martin de Porres shelters. Those plans will continue.

“We just couldn’t ignore the Sieglers,” Morin said. “We had to do something.”

So, the 11-member board voted unanimously to donate all proceeds from Thursday’s preview performance of “Godspell” to the family.

At $5 per seat, $10 less than the average ticket, previews typically draw an audience of 200 or so people. That’s enough to raise $1,000 for the family. And that doesn’t include donations beyond the ticket price.

“We’re very honored,” said Siegler, who plans to attend the performance with his wife and their three younger children, Natasha, 19, Alex, 15 and Diana, 14.

The family lost its home at 49 Frost Hill Ave. in Lisbon on the evening of Jan. 31. The fire left the ground floor ash-covered and water-logged and gutted the upper floor.

“The second floor is a complete wasteland,” Siegler said.

Almost nothing was recovered.

Though everyone was all right and the home was insured, the experience has been less than easy. Instruments worth thousands of dollars were destroyed. The teens also owned several unique, heirloom-quality dolls that were lost.

“They’re coming up with lists,” the father said. The inventory of lost belongings is tough, though. Things get left out. Some will never be replaced.

“You find yourself saying, ‘Where’s that … oops, I don’t have that anymore,'” he said.

The family, which also includes an older daughter, survives.

And after eight years – both on stage and behind it in Auburn and elsewhere – the family may return to the theater before long.

Siegler said his wife will likely lead them.

“She is the engine,” he said. “She’s an actor by heart, and they’re motivated by forces different than the rest of us.”

Go and do

WHAT: “Godspell” performance

BENEFITING: Ray Siegler and Shirley Bernier family

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday

WHERE: Community Little Theatre Performing Arts Center, Academy Street, Auburn

ADMISSION: $5. Further donations welcome.