Maj. Tim Woodard just learned he'll play a new role rebuilding Iraq.
Woodard is cast as the male lead in Westwood Baptist Church's new play, "Whatever Happened to Auntie Mame," which opens Nov. 21.
But Woodard won't be there for his curtain call.
The National Guard reservist is on his way to Iraq, preparing for the February deployment of the 81st Armor Brigade.
Woodard, like many reservists, didn't think he would be deployed after the brigade had a false alarm last winter. So the Tumwater resident, a longtime lover of the theater, took the part in the church's play a few months ago.
"He was pretty sure that he could make it," said writer and producer Don Ingalls. "We prayed and hoped that he could. We both know when you're in the military, you're never absolutely sure about anything."
But Monday, director Laura Roznowski got the call every director dreads the week before dress rehearsal: Her lead actor wouldn't be able to perform. Woodard had called his wife while en route to Iraq to let her know his duties had changed.
"I was very disappointed," Roznowski said. "He's been on board since day one."
Woodard had asked Ingalls and Roznowski just a week before if they wanted to pull him from the lead role of John Cameron, considering the risk that he could be called away; but they told him they would hope for the best.
"He really wanted to do this play, but he feels a tremendous responsibility to go and help rebuild Iraq," said Woodard's wife, Diane.
The father of two is on brigade supervisor Gen. Oscar B. Hilman's staff, which left Monday to do reconnaissance and inspect the sites battalions will visit when they go to Iraq in February. They plan to return Monday, but Diane Woodard said her husband will be busy preparing for the brigade's mobilization, set for Nov. 15.
Tim Woodard has wanted to serve in the military since he was a little boy, his wife said, and he's excited to take on this adventure and "helping the people of Iraq have a better life."
Woodard, 40, has had a long career in the military, working in active-duty intelligence for 10 years and serving as a reservist for seven years. He has worked at Camp Murray for four years.
This is the first time Woodard has been deployed on a long-term mission.
"We're very proud of him. ... At the same time, there's that apprehension of him being in a combat zone," Diane Woodard said.
Their children, Wesley, 15, and Beth, 14, also are excited that their dad is finally following one of his dreams.
Meanwhile, the show must go on, Ingalls said; understudy Dustin Wilson will take on the role.
"We had a backup plan because of the precarious situation in having a military person in it," Ingalls said.
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