Missouri Native Wayne Schroder stars in “Wicked,” now showing in Springfield, Mo. and he’s a Cardinals fan too

By Sally Tippett Rains

There are two exciting entertainment offerings going on in Springfield, Missouri– both playing in arenas called “Hammons” and an Ozark-area native got to cross over into two of his passions for the occasion on Tuesday night. Wayne Schroder, who was raised in Marshfield, Missouri is part of the ensemble of the national tour of “Wicked” which is playing at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts this week. There are still some great seats available: CLICK HERE.

Two of Schroder’s worlds collided when he threw out the first pitch at the Springfield Cardinals game at Hammons Field.

It was a homecoming for Schroder, who grew up right down the road, playing football for the Marshfield Blue Jays, even being chosen first team All District.

Before the game, he was on the field tossing the ceremonial first pitch. He has achieved so much in his career as a Broadway actor, but it was near and dear to his heart to be able to throw out a first pitch at a baseball game and in front of his parents and castmates.

Most of the cast of the musical was in attendance for the game, but Schroder, who is a life-long St. Louis Cardinals fan was actually paying attention. They are shown in the photo below with the Springfield Cardinals mascots.

Schroder showed up in a Cardinals shirt, representing for the home town.

“I was hoping to be able to see Rainiel Rodriguez playing in Springfield,” he told STL Sports Page.

That comment showed Schroder’s Cardinals’ knowledge as Rodriguez is the highly touted catching prospect who is currently playing at the Peoria Chiefs the High-A affiliate  for the Cardinals and could soon be promoted to Double A Springfield. The 19-year old had a great Spring Training and he’s been drawing a lot of attention  for his high-level hitting, including one game where he had four-extra-base hits.

Schroder’s parents, Neva and Bill Schroder, originally from Marshfield, Missouri but currently living in Texas were at the game with him.  They are all shown in the photo, left, with Rob Rains at Hammons Field Tuesday night.

“We got to sit with the cast in a special outdoor suite,” said Neva who along with Bill plan to be at their son’s performance on Thursday night. “This worked out so well because we always come up for the Missouri Cherry Blossom Festival in Marshfield and it just turned out Wayne is in Springfield the same week.” (For information on the Cherry Blossom Festival CLICK HERE.)

Before the seventh inning, Wayne Schroder was again on the field, this time singing “God Bless America” followed by “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”

The Springfield Cardinals were playing the A’s Double A affiliate Midland RockHounds, who like Bill and Neva Schroder are based in Texas. For six innings the RockHounds were no-hitting the Cardinals. Her group was interrupted during the most exciting part of the game game by visitors, Bill and Wayne kept one eye on the game.  Springfield’s Zach Levenson broke up the no-no, and as the chatting continued, Bill interrupted, saying “The bases are loaded!”

The Cardinals had a four-run seventh-inning rally to which the Schroder family cheered with the crowd.

“Our three kids are all Cardinal fans,” said Neva Schroder. “But Wayne really knows the stats. He was the athlete of our family. He did football, basketball, and track– and of course some baseball.”

It’s interesting how closely related Wayne Schroder’s career is to a baseball player’s. Both work to perfect their craft and then they show up every night to perform it. They have set times they rehearse or in the case of the baseball players, practice. There are long road trips filled with both busy-ness and downtime.

Being an actor in a Broadway performance for fourteen years takes a lot of stamina. They are in a sort of training like an athlete is. While the Cardinals are pacing themselves for a long season, the actors know they have a lot required from them also.

When interviewed by Missouri State University, Schroder talked about that:

“Between Friday night and Sunday night we do five shows in about 50 hours,” he said. “The challenge is to take care of yourself in a way that allows you to perform at a high level over and over and over again. It can be pretty grueling.”

With all the travel, the actor prefers driving to the towns he performs in, over flying, so he can bring more of his personal items so it feels more like home.

Ironically, in both baseball and “Wicked,” the term “home” is an important term. “Wicked” of course is the prequel to “The Wizard of Oz” where Dorothy clicks the heels of her ruby slippers together and says, “There’s no place like home.” The Cardinals like nothing better than when their own red shoes make it “home,” crossing home plate for a run scored.

“When you’ve been on the road as long as I have, I’m not sure any place feels like home,” Schroder told the reporter.”You get used to waking up and not knowing where you are. I drive my car on the tour which allows me to carry more creature comforts than if I were flying.”

If you would like to come out to the Juanita K. Hammons Center and see Wayne Schroder and the rest of the cast of Wicked at Hammons Hall, here is the information: