A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR
“ The biggest , most fantastic thing in theatre will be … MUSICALS .”
This mantra has been a guiding star in my life , cleverly teased into dialogue by Karey Kirkpatrick & John O ’ Farrell for a character in the play you ’ re about to witness . Being entrusted by Theatre Cedar Rapids with the directorship of this particular musical fills me with joy and a deep sense of fulfillment . It ’ s a validation of all those hours spent as a child , devouring cast albums from the Cedar Rapids Public Library like other kids gobble up candy , and my inner 10-year-old is ecstatic .
Returning to the Theatre Cedar Rapids stage is a dream come true and a significant milestone in my personal journey . Early visits to this theatre with my mom to watch productions like Grease , Starmites , and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory in the early 90s ignited something inside of me that has lasted a lifetime . I made my debut on the TCR stage in the 1993 Youtheatre touring production of Cool Yule ( green cast ), followed by a string of shows that shaped my youth : Echoes ( 1994 ), Santa ’ s Frosty Follies ( 1994 ), Hello , Dolly ! ( 1997 ), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat ( 1999 ), Crazy for You ( 2000 ), and The Who ’ s Tommy ( 2001 ).
My formative years at Theatre Cedar Rapids not only deepened my love for the theatre as an art form but also as a medium for community-building . The talented people I met , both peers and mentors , generously spent their time , energy , and expertise for the enrichment of the community . As a director here today , I pay homage to those who directed and guided me back then : Jim Kern , Damon Cole , Alison Shaffer , Richard Barker , Michael Harrington … among many others .
Left to Right : Hello , Dolly ! ( 1997 ), The Who ’ s Tommy ( 2001 ), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat ( 1999 )
30