Market Theatre could not do what we do without our incredible sponsors! Our sponsors trust us to create works that embody our values: connecting and inspiring our community by creating quality art, educational opportunities, and a vibrant community arts hub. In return, we want to spotlight our sponsors.
Our first featured sponsor is Arbor-All Tree Service, a sponsor since 2024. Owned by Sam O'Halloran, Arbor-All is dedicated to preserving the natural beauty of our community and plays a vital role in keeping our environment lush and healthy. Their commitment to the community and exceptional service make them an ideal partner for Market Theatre, and we're proud to have them as part of our growing network of supporters.
Sam & Errin O’Halloran
What inspired you to become an arborist and start your business in the field?
I kind of found arboriculture by accident, in the sense that it wasn’t the kind of thing I grew up with or had ever really been exposed to, let alone considered as a career. I was 33 and busy not using my college degree while working as a courier at FedEx when we moved to a house in Anderson that had a lot of really ugly trees. Being the inveterate DIYer that I am, I decided to remove the trees on my own. Let me just say, DIY really isn’t the way to go with tree work! Thankfully, I didn’t injure myself or break my house. But during that ill-advised process, I got really fascinated with the idea of tree work. It was sort of a “love at first cut” kind of thing, and I decided pretty quickly that I was going to eventually make a living out of it. I also concluded that making a living from tree work would require a lot more knowledge and skill than I had at the time if I was to do it safely and responsibly, so I started working with a local tree service that had an experienced climber who mentored me, and I found as many educational resources and organizations as I could. I just wanted to learn everything I could, and the more I learned and worked, the more my passion for it grew. When I felt sufficiently competent and knew that I could practice tree care in a professional and responsible way, I quit FedEx and formed Arbor-All Tree Service. That was in 2015 and it was one of the best choices I ever made!
What's something unexpected that you do on the job?
Convince homeowners to NOT trim or remove their trees! Some folks are motivated to hire me by either an unnecessary fear of their trees or a misunderstanding of what their trees need in terms of maintenance, and they’re prepared to spend good money for services that they don’t need and often don’t really want. So on a regular basis I find myself saying something like, “I’d be happy to do this job for you, but if I were you I wouldn’t be worried about it and I really think you should save your money,” which most people love to hear. It’s not great salesmanship, I suppose, but I find it satisfying and I think that honesty pays off in the long run.
Is there a particular Market show that has left a lasting impression on you?
Jersey Boys! And the lasting impression was, “Market Theatre has just proved how truly amazing local theatre can be!”
How did you get involved with Market Theatre, and what motivated you to do so?
I did a lot of local theatre when I was in middle and high school and those are some of my most cherished memories, so when my kids expressed interest in theatre a few years ago, Errin and I were all for it! So we looked for a local theatre, found Market, Owen and Jean tried out for a show and were cast, and since then their love of all things theatre has only grown (“all-consuming passion” would be one way to summarize their feelings about it). But beyond that, my kids also found “their people” at Market. The close friendships they’ve developed there and the opportunities they’ve been given have been so formative and enriching for them. So our involvement with Market was definitely driven by our kids to begin with, but it didn’t take long for Errin and me to also see how great Market is in terms of its community and mission, and we’re proud to support it any way we can.
What events or shows are you most looking forward to this season?
It’s a toss up between Something Rotten! and the always fun 24 Hour Musical.
Why do you think it's important to support the arts, especially in Anderson?
On a very broad level, I think that the arts are a vital part of our humanity in the sense that both the ability to create art and the capacity to enjoy it are distinctly human things and are part of what it means to be “made in the image of God.” A community without the arts would be like a town without trees (to use a career-related analogy): it could survive, but it would be lacking some essential life and beauty. So on that level, supporting the arts is just one means of supporting human flourishing and happiness in one’s community. But to be a little less philosophical and more local about it, supporting the arts in Anderson is important because the organizations like Market Theatre that facilitate the arts are just part of what makes Anderson a thriving city where folks can enjoy living.
What's been your favorite memory with Market Theatre?
When I heard my teenage son really sing for the first time in 13: The Musical. I knew he had musical talent because by then he was already proficient at multiple instruments, but he would never sing at home in anything but a silly, exaggerated sort of voice. It’s a teenager thing, I guess. But when he started into his first solo of the show and I heard his true singing voice for the first time since he was little, I quietly blubbered there in my seat. It was a proud dad moment, for sure. And the show itself was great, of course.
I'm sure this isn't the first time you've gotten this question, but from a professional's perspective: if a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?
The scientists would say yes, some philosophers would say no, and arborists like myself would only want to know what equipment we’d need to bring to clean it up.
If you need a professional arborist, look no further than Arbor-All Tree Service. For more information or to get in touch with Sam O'Halloran, visit arboralltreeservice.com or find them on Facebook.
If this blog has inspired you to support Market Theatre, please consider donating to the Camp Scholarship Fund. This fund helps ensure that as many students as possible can attend camp and experience the magic of theatre. If you're interested in becoming a sponsor, please visit our Donations and Sponsorships page for more details.
