THE MEMORIES THEY MADE — Diana Mendel, left, has been part of the Brooke Hills Playhouse for the past 42 years. Since 1983, when her daughter, Julie, right, was 14, she has been taking part in acting, directing, choreographing and writing for the playhouse. Julie followed in her mother’s footsteps and became the director of the childrens’s shows for 20 years. Julie’s daughter, Chelsey, center, followed in her mother’s footsteps and now holds the former title of her mother and grandmother –– president of the Brooke County Arts Council. Chelsey took on the role following her mother’s death in December. -- Contributed

WELLSBURG — Mothers.

They are more than just a parent, more than just a confidant.

They are more than just our friend.

Mothers are our role models.

They are somebody whom we strive to emulate. The one person we do our best to try and make proud in all that we do.

A SPECIAL PLACE — For decades, Brooke Hills Playhouse has been run by three generations of women, beginning with Diana Mendel, left. Mendel’s daughter, Julie Mendel Barnhart, right, took over the role of Brooke County Arts Council president, the playhouse’s parent company, serving for 20 years until her death in December. Julie’s daughter, Chelsey, center, took the reigns as president to follow in her mom’s footsteps. -- Contributed

Daughters.

They are a mother’s greatest gift. They are someone a mother will continue to protect with each and every breath as long as she lives.

The relationship between a mother and her daughter is one of the strongest, most beautiful bonds there is.

And perhaps no one understands this better than Wellsburg resident Diana Mendel.

When Mendel gave birth to her daughter, Julia, in the late ’60s, it was love at first sight.

She referred to her as Julie, and the two were pretty much inseparable.

Diana was a schoolteacher, teaching language arts at Beech Bottom School from 1975-1986 and at Hammond Middle School from 1986-89.

She taught English and journalism at Brooke High School from 1989-99 and English and drama at the Didcot Girls’ School in Oxfordshire, England throughout 2004.

But whenever she wasn’t teaching, one could usually find Diana at the Brooke Hills Playhouse in Wellsburg.

It all began almost 42 years ago.

Julie was around 14 years old when Diana auditioned for and landed her first leading role in the show “Solid Gold Cadillac.” The year was 1983.

Diana has been there ever since.

She has acted, directed, choreographed and written children’s shows for the playhouse.

She has written all of the murder mysteries that the playhouse has performed throughout the last 20 years.

The only leave she has taken was when she and her husband purchased a sailboat and toured the Intracoastal Waterway for two years when she retired from teaching in 1999.

She took one more leave in 2004 when she taught in England for a year.

As for Julie, she would spend time whenever she could alongside her mother at the playhouse … that small, pre-Civil War apple barn located in the middle of Brooke Hills Park.

She, too, had become fixated with that stage … just as her mother had.

But rather than pursue acting, Julie chose to volunteer as a director, taking on the task of directing the children’s shows. She found the experience so rewarding, she directed their shows for the next 20 years.

“Her shows were always amazing because the children looked adorable in their fantastic costumes and fabulous makeup,” Diana recalled. “They learned stage etiquette, mannerisms, movement, voice projection and committed to be part of a team to tell a story. Some of them were under five years of age.”

Diana was always extremely proud of her daughter.

Then, the day finally came when Julie learned what a mother’s pride actually felt like. She became extremely proud of her own daughter, whom she chose to name Chelsey.

From that moment forward, the three generations would become inseparable.

Julie, who followed in the footsteps of her mother, now involved Chelsey in the Brooke Hills Playhouse.

For the past 21 summers, Chelsey has continued to be a part of that community.

“I got involved because of my mom and she got involved because of her mom,” she stated.

Now a school counselor at Brooke Middle School, Chelsey explained, “I started out acting as a teen and quickly moved into backstage things, such as stage managing, lighting and set building. I still do all of those things today, including directing, concessions, house management and managing the place.”

The playhouse has become just as important to Chelsey as it had become for her mother. And Julie’s love for the playhouse came from her mother, Diana.

So, what is it about the playhouse that makes it mean so much to three generations of one family?

When asked to describe what the playhouse means to her, Chelsey’s response was: “It is a place where people come and feel welcomed — whether they are acting, volunteering or even coming to watch a show.”

“The playhouse is a safe place to be yourself.,” Chelsey added. “It’s a place where a lot of us have grown up and a place where a lot of us became who we are today. I’d love to see it keep going for years and years as we continue to make people laugh. That’s so important. Laughter is some really good medicine. The playhouse is a place you can forget about your troubles for awhile and just enjoy the moment.”

She stated she loves being able to work with her grandmother — whom she refers to as “G.”

“I’ve been in numerous productions, and most recently, was in ‘Nana Does Vegas,’ where I not only acted, but directed the show,” Chelsey commented. “This show was special to me because my G played Nana and I played the granddaughter.”

“The three of us have shared in many memories,” Diana said. “We have acted in each other’s shows. I was Marilla Cuthbert when Julie directed ‘Anne of Green Gables.’ Chelsey has played many characters in shows that I have directed and Julie was in a show I directed. It has been an amazing run. And it isn’t over.”

It might not be over.

But it will never again be the same as it once was.

Julia Mendel Barnhart died two days before Christmas. She was 56 years old. She had battled liver disease for eight years.

“The doctor told her she’d need a liver transplant or end up with liver cancer,” Chelsey solemnly recalled. “Those were the options. This disease wreaked havoc on her body — not that she’d ever tell anyone.”

“She was the strongest person I have ever known,” she continued. “All the way up until the end, you would never know how much she was suffering inside. Her liver disease slowly started to shut down all of her major organs … her heart, kidneys and lungs. But you’d never know it. Up until the very end, she did it all with a smile on her face. She never complained. She just kept on going.”

“She continued on with her life in the most normal way she could, loving and spending time with her children, my brother, sister-in-law, her family and her grandchildren. She was the best Gammy,” Chelsey said.

“Julie was kind, nurturing, helpful to all and a willing participant to my concert attendance,” Diana added. “We are hoping many of Julie’s former young actors may want to audition for ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,’ to honor her.” Auditions will take place on June 14.

Julie oversaw numerous productions at the playhouse and was president of the Brooke County Arts Council, its volunteer parent organization. She was a member of the Brooke Hills Park board as well.

Diana has served on the arts council, in the position of treasurer for the past 20 years. She, too, was once president of the council.

Another shared experience by the mother and daughter.

“It was the best 20 years we shared together — managing the playhouse, working on grants and funding, believing in the preservation of an old playhouse that brought the community together in the glorious celebration of the arts,” Diana said. “Chelsey was right there along with us on the BCAC board. And I am so thankful all three of us got to share in those moments together.”

“Chelsey has taken over her mother’s role as president,” Diana exclaimed. “She will be directing the children’s show ‘The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,’ in her mother’s honor this August. She will do an amazing job as she has been at her mother’s side for the last 20 years.”

Chelsey said she took on the president’s role to try and fill her mother’s shoes and keep the playhouse running the way her mother would want it run.

“My mom was the epitome of love and light,” Chelsey exclaimed. “She loved the playhouse so much and keeping the arts alive for the community was something super important to her.”

“The playhouse became our summer home, as we’d spend most days and evenings there,” she continued. “My mom felt at peace there. She thrived on running the place. She held a master’s degree in business administration. She loved to see things come together and she loved being the person everyone came to. She was a problem solver by nature. She was very much a giver, a giver of her time, energy and love — even when she was sick.”

“Working with children was her passion and she always found a way to make sure everyone was included,” Chelsey remarked. “She made the kids work really hard but she had this way of knowing when they needed a break or some fun. So, she would throw dance parties when rehearsals became too much.”

“She always threw the best cast parties where we would be there until 1 or 2 a.m. with the children,” she recalled of her mother. “They loved it so much. I can only hope as I take on many of her roles, that I can do half of what she did. I have some big shoes to fill.”

This year, Brooke Hills Playhouse will celebrate its 54th season — one you will not want to miss, according to Diana.

And for the first summer in 43 seasons, she will not be taking part in the acting. Nor will she be directing.

Attendees will be able to find Diana instead, at the box office, where she explained she will happily sell you a season pass.

Shows this season will include: “Steel Magnolias,” May 30-June 1 and June 6-8; “No Sex Please, We’re British,” June 20-22 and June 27-29; “9 to 5, The Musical,” July 11-13 and 18-20; “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe,” August 1-3 and Aug. 8-10; and “Always A Bridesmaid,” August 22-24 and Aug. 29-31.

Tickets can be purchased at the box office.

Season passes for all five shows are available at the cost of four shows, Diana commented.

Adults can purchase a season pass for $58, seniors and students, $50 and children, $42.

Diana mentioned its motto: Only at Brooke Hills Playhouse … where the magic continues.

She mentioned she is forever grateful to the 1972 playhouse founders, Shari Murphy Coote, William Harper and John Hennen.

Diana’s memories of the playhouse center around the people.

“I have been privileged to know and play with many wonderful people on stage,” she commented. “There is so much talent in this wonderful Ohio Valley. The actors were amazing.”

“We were all in this magical game in which we played characters, sometimes similar, sometimes dissimilar to ourselves,” Diana continued. “But our performances were magical because we believed in the story we were telling. And our timing, our physical comedy, our expressions … all interconnected to relay the story in the best way we could.”

“Many of these actors have passed on, but their contributions to the playhouse stage can never be forgotten,” Diana said. “I have performed in more than 80 shows, so I don’t always remember all of the shows I have done.”

But she has loved every minute of it.

In a way, the playhouse brought all three generations even closer together, allowing for Diana, Julie and Chelsey to spend more time with one another.

“My G and I have always been close,” Chelsey stated. “But since my mom’s passing, I believe we are even closer, if that’s possible. She and my brother are the closest thing I have to my mom. My G is a very special lady who means the world to me.”

Chelsey noted her father also died recently, four months after her mother.

Losing both parents has been the hardest thing she has ever had to go through, she said.

“I’m only 36 and have a long life to live without two people who meant the most to me,” she exclaimed.

This is the first Mother’s Day Diana will spend without her daugher.

The first Mother’s Day Chelsey will spend without her mother.

So, what would the two women like for the community to know about who Julia Mendel Barnhart was inside?

“She was the epitome of family,” Chelsey said as she reflected on her mother.

“Transitions meant so much to her,” she said. “My life as I know it will never be the same without her. But I will do my best to fill her shoes and make her proud.”

“Simply said … I had the best daughter who had the best daughter,” Diana concluded.