http://www.bocagrandetalk.com/page/content.detail/id/506877/Powerhouse-director-still-seeks-her-perfect-play.html?nav=5069&actionAlert=emailcontent
Jennifer L. Kelly
1873 Whispering Pines Circle Englewood, FL 34223
jenniekelly@comcast.net
Home: (941) 474-7191
Cell: (941) 626-0688
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE DIRECTING
Nemo!, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Center, April 2010
The Wizard of Oz, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Center, April 2010
Oliver!, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Center, January 2010
The Wedding Singer, Lied Center for the Performing Arts, June 2009
The Wedding Singer, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, April 2009
Seussical: The Musical, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Academy, January 2009
The Wedding Singer, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Center,November 2008
Willy Wonka, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Academy, July 2008
Sleeping Beauty, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Academy, July 2008
Grease, Lemon Bay Theatre, March 2008
Annie, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Academy, December 2007
High School Musical, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Academy, July 2007
Aristocats, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Academy, July 2007
Thoroughly Modern Millie,Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, April 2007
Cats, Lemon Bay Theatre, March 2007
Thoroughly Modern Millie, Lemon Bay Theatre, October 2006
Music Man, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Academy, July 2006
Cinderella, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Academy, July 2006
101 Dalmatians, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Academy, July 2006
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center,April 2006
Oklahoma!, Lemon Bay Theatre, March 2006
Swing!, Lemon Bay Theatre, October 2005
Aladdin, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Academy, July 2005
Jungle Book, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Academy, July 2005
Jungle Book: In Concert,Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, April 2005
Seussical: The Musical, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center,,April 2005
Les Miserables, Lemon Bay Theatre, March 2005
Peter Pan, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Academy, July 2004
Stuart Little, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Academy, July 2004
Seussical: The Musical ,Lemon Bay Theatre, March 2004
Wizard of Oz, Lemon Bay Summer Theatre, July 2003
Kiss Me, Kate, Lemon Bay Theatre, April 2003
The Comedy of Errors, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, April 2003
Babes in Toyland, Lemon Bay Theatre, December 2002
Guys and Dolls, Lemon Bay Summer Theatre, July 2002
Anything Goes, Lemon Bay Theatre, April 2002
Pinocchio Commedia, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, April 2002
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Lemon Bay Theatre ,Dec 2001
Annie, Lemon Bay Summer Theatre, July 2001
Sound of Music, Lemon Bay Theatre, April 2001
Addict, Lemon Bay Theatre, October 2000
Wizard of Oz, Fort Carson School of the Arts, June 2000
Alice in Wonderland, Fort Carson School of the Arts, April 2000
Babes in Toyland, Fort Carson School of the Arts, December 1999
Alky, Fort Carson School of the Arts, October 1999
Annie, Fort Carson School of the Arts, July 1999
Addict, Fort Carson School of the Arts, October 1998
Hey, We're Young & Proud, Fort Carson School of the Arts,July 1998
I Didn't Know That!, Fort Carson School of the Arts, June 1998
Around the World in 3 Stories, Wichita Center for the Arts, July 1996
The Greatest Gift of All, Principia College Youth, November 1995
Kids Klub Goes to Broadway, Wichita Center for the Arts, July 1995
Mother Goose, Wichita Children’s Theatre & Dance, June 1995
Hey, We're Young & Proud, Wichita Center for the Arts, July 1994
Wizard of Oz, Principia Lower School, April 1990
NON EQUITY TOUR DIRECTION
The Firebird, Stage Theater Company, Sept - Feb 1994
ASSISTANT DIRECTING
Tartuffe, Lemon Bay High School, April 1996
Aladdin, Cedar Camps Summer Theater, June 1994
Godspell, Cedar Camps Summer Theater, June 1993
Cinderella, Cedar Camps Summer Theater, June 1992
ACTING
The Firebird, Chorus/Dancer, American Stage Theater Co
The Saga of Sagebrush Sal, Sagebrush Sal, Lemon Bay Dinner Theater
Industrials for Southwest Business Expo, Englewood, FL 1991-1993
COLLEGE/REGIONAL EXPERIENCE
DIRECTING
Tartuffe, Principia College Theater, May 1997
The Comedy of Errors, Principia College Theater, November 1996
Tears of Silence (Mime), Principia College Theater, September 1996
Wizard of Oz, Principia Upper School, May 1990
ACTING
Carousel, Mrs. Mullin, Principia College Theater
Coming of Age, Monica, Principia College Theater
The Madwoman of Chaillot, Shoelace Peddlar, Principia College Theater
Conference of the Birds, Nightingale, Witch, Principia College Theater
All the World's a Stage, Modern Student, ITS District Festival
Undercover Lover (Kabuki),Taro, Lemon Bay High School
Oklahoma!, Ado Annie, Lemon Bay High School
Night of Stars (Nunsense) Sister Hubert, Barbara B Mann Hall
Wizard of Oz, Dorothy, Cedars Musical Theater
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Cedars Musical Theater
Music Man, Ethel, Lemon Bay High School
Alice in Wonderland, White Rabbit, Lemon Bay High School
Cinderella, Gertrude, Lemon Bay High School
Once Upon a Playground ,Dixie Wix, Lemon Bay High School
Stages, Corie, Lemon Bay High School
Wizard of Oz, Munchkin, Lemon Bay Dinner Theater
Fiddler on the Roof,Shprintze, Lemon Bay Dinner Theater
Sound of Music, Gretl, Lemon Bay Dinner Theater
AWARDS
Directing Awards
April 2009 Selection of The Wedding Singer as a Top Nine International selection
April 2009 3 Superiors, 2 Excellents at the ITS State Festival
November 2008 Selection of The Wedding Singer as a Top Eight state selection
May 2007 Asolo Theatre Guild’s “Guilders Award” for Thoroughly Modern Millie
December 2006 Selection of Thoroughly Modern Millie as a Top Eight state selection
December 2005 Selection of Swing! as a Top Eight State selection as a workshop performance
December 2004 Selection of Seussical: The Musical as a Top Six state selection
November 2003 Critic’s Choice (Best of the Best) Mime; 8 Superiors; 8 Excellents
April 2003 1 Superior, 4 Excellents, 2 Mainstage/Critics Choice Performances, and 1 Scholarship at ITS State Festival
January 2003 District winner with Superior rated “The Comedy of Errors”
November 2002 Critic’s Choice (Best of the Best) winner for District 6; “Forget about the Boy” Thoroughly Modern Millie (performance at Opening Ceremony at State Festival); Mime Critics Choice; District Scholarship winner
May 2002 Charlotte County Public Schools Recognition for Service
April 2002 5 Excellents at ITS State FestivalJanuary 2002 District winner with Superior rated “Pinocchio Commedia”November 2001 Mime Critics Choice
October 2000 Mime Critics Choice Acting/Academic Awards
June 1997 Helen Cobb Gunnison Performing Arts Award and Mabel Axcy Dominick Award Honor Roll for four consecutive years, Who's Who among American Universities and Colleges
June 1993-1996 Englewood Performing Arts Center Scholarship Award Recipient
November 1993 Region III Kennedy Center/American College Theater Festival selection
June 1993 National Honors Society, Rotary Scholar, Principal's Award, Performing Arts Student of the Year, French Honor Society, Math Honor Society and Thespian Society Honor Thespian, Best Actress for 1993
TRAINING
M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction in Theatre Colorado Christian University
B.A. in TheaterPrincipia College 1997
Richard MorseDialects/Speech: Dr. Candice Coleman, 2 yearsMime: Richard Morse, Director of Richard Morse Mime Theater, NYCPeriod Styles:
Richard Morse, 4 yearsVocals: Sarah Rockabrand, 2 yearsDance:
Ballet, 2 years, Jazz, 3 years
SPECIAL SKILLS
Commedia dell'arte, Mime, Period Styles, Kabuki Theater, Stage movement, Directing, Scenic Design, Costume Design, Curriculum and Instructional Design, Teaching, Group Management, Problem solving, Vocal development, Creative writing, Playwriting, Musical Theater, Music theory, Trumpet, Singing, Swimming, Cycling
REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
jenniekelly@comcast.net
Home: (941) 474-7191
Cell: (941) 626-0688
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE DIRECTING
Nemo!, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Center, April 2010
The Wizard of Oz, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Center, April 2010
Oliver!, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Center, January 2010
The Wedding Singer, Lied Center for the Performing Arts, June 2009
The Wedding Singer, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, April 2009
Seussical: The Musical, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Academy, January 2009
The Wedding Singer, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Center,November 2008
Willy Wonka, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Academy, July 2008
Sleeping Beauty, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Academy, July 2008
Grease, Lemon Bay Theatre, March 2008
Annie, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Academy, December 2007
High School Musical, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Academy, July 2007
Aristocats, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Academy, July 2007
Thoroughly Modern Millie,Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, April 2007
Cats, Lemon Bay Theatre, March 2007
Thoroughly Modern Millie, Lemon Bay Theatre, October 2006
Music Man, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Academy, July 2006
Cinderella, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Academy, July 2006
101 Dalmatians, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Academy, July 2006
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center,April 2006
Oklahoma!, Lemon Bay Theatre, March 2006
Swing!, Lemon Bay Theatre, October 2005
Aladdin, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Academy, July 2005
Jungle Book, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Academy, July 2005
Jungle Book: In Concert,Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, April 2005
Seussical: The Musical, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center,,April 2005
Les Miserables, Lemon Bay Theatre, March 2005
Peter Pan, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Academy, July 2004
Stuart Little, Lemon Bay Performing Arts Academy, July 2004
Seussical: The Musical ,Lemon Bay Theatre, March 2004
Wizard of Oz, Lemon Bay Summer Theatre, July 2003
Kiss Me, Kate, Lemon Bay Theatre, April 2003
The Comedy of Errors, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, April 2003
Babes in Toyland, Lemon Bay Theatre, December 2002
Guys and Dolls, Lemon Bay Summer Theatre, July 2002
Anything Goes, Lemon Bay Theatre, April 2002
Pinocchio Commedia, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, April 2002
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Lemon Bay Theatre ,Dec 2001
Annie, Lemon Bay Summer Theatre, July 2001
Sound of Music, Lemon Bay Theatre, April 2001
Addict, Lemon Bay Theatre, October 2000
Wizard of Oz, Fort Carson School of the Arts, June 2000
Alice in Wonderland, Fort Carson School of the Arts, April 2000
Babes in Toyland, Fort Carson School of the Arts, December 1999
Alky, Fort Carson School of the Arts, October 1999
Annie, Fort Carson School of the Arts, July 1999
Addict, Fort Carson School of the Arts, October 1998
Hey, We're Young & Proud, Fort Carson School of the Arts,July 1998
I Didn't Know That!, Fort Carson School of the Arts, June 1998
Around the World in 3 Stories, Wichita Center for the Arts, July 1996
The Greatest Gift of All, Principia College Youth, November 1995
Kids Klub Goes to Broadway, Wichita Center for the Arts, July 1995
Mother Goose, Wichita Children’s Theatre & Dance, June 1995
Hey, We're Young & Proud, Wichita Center for the Arts, July 1994
Wizard of Oz, Principia Lower School, April 1990
NON EQUITY TOUR DIRECTION
The Firebird, Stage Theater Company, Sept - Feb 1994
ASSISTANT DIRECTING
Tartuffe, Lemon Bay High School, April 1996
Aladdin, Cedar Camps Summer Theater, June 1994
Godspell, Cedar Camps Summer Theater, June 1993
Cinderella, Cedar Camps Summer Theater, June 1992
ACTING
The Firebird, Chorus/Dancer, American Stage Theater Co
The Saga of Sagebrush Sal, Sagebrush Sal, Lemon Bay Dinner Theater
Industrials for Southwest Business Expo, Englewood, FL 1991-1993
COLLEGE/REGIONAL EXPERIENCE
DIRECTING
Tartuffe, Principia College Theater, May 1997
The Comedy of Errors, Principia College Theater, November 1996
Tears of Silence (Mime), Principia College Theater, September 1996
Wizard of Oz, Principia Upper School, May 1990
ACTING
Carousel, Mrs. Mullin, Principia College Theater
Coming of Age, Monica, Principia College Theater
The Madwoman of Chaillot, Shoelace Peddlar, Principia College Theater
Conference of the Birds, Nightingale, Witch, Principia College Theater
All the World's a Stage, Modern Student, ITS District Festival
Undercover Lover (Kabuki),Taro, Lemon Bay High School
Oklahoma!, Ado Annie, Lemon Bay High School
Night of Stars (Nunsense) Sister Hubert, Barbara B Mann Hall
Wizard of Oz, Dorothy, Cedars Musical Theater
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Cedars Musical Theater
Music Man, Ethel, Lemon Bay High School
Alice in Wonderland, White Rabbit, Lemon Bay High School
Cinderella, Gertrude, Lemon Bay High School
Once Upon a Playground ,Dixie Wix, Lemon Bay High School
Stages, Corie, Lemon Bay High School
Wizard of Oz, Munchkin, Lemon Bay Dinner Theater
Fiddler on the Roof,Shprintze, Lemon Bay Dinner Theater
Sound of Music, Gretl, Lemon Bay Dinner Theater
AWARDS
Directing Awards
April 2009 Selection of The Wedding Singer as a Top Nine International selection
April 2009 3 Superiors, 2 Excellents at the ITS State Festival
November 2008 Selection of The Wedding Singer as a Top Eight state selection
May 2007 Asolo Theatre Guild’s “Guilders Award” for Thoroughly Modern Millie
December 2006 Selection of Thoroughly Modern Millie as a Top Eight state selection
December 2005 Selection of Swing! as a Top Eight State selection as a workshop performance
December 2004 Selection of Seussical: The Musical as a Top Six state selection
November 2003 Critic’s Choice (Best of the Best) Mime; 8 Superiors; 8 Excellents
April 2003 1 Superior, 4 Excellents, 2 Mainstage/Critics Choice Performances, and 1 Scholarship at ITS State Festival
January 2003 District winner with Superior rated “The Comedy of Errors”
November 2002 Critic’s Choice (Best of the Best) winner for District 6; “Forget about the Boy” Thoroughly Modern Millie (performance at Opening Ceremony at State Festival); Mime Critics Choice; District Scholarship winner
May 2002 Charlotte County Public Schools Recognition for Service
April 2002 5 Excellents at ITS State FestivalJanuary 2002 District winner with Superior rated “Pinocchio Commedia”November 2001 Mime Critics Choice
October 2000 Mime Critics Choice Acting/Academic Awards
June 1997 Helen Cobb Gunnison Performing Arts Award and Mabel Axcy Dominick Award Honor Roll for four consecutive years, Who's Who among American Universities and Colleges
June 1993-1996 Englewood Performing Arts Center Scholarship Award Recipient
November 1993 Region III Kennedy Center/American College Theater Festival selection
June 1993 National Honors Society, Rotary Scholar, Principal's Award, Performing Arts Student of the Year, French Honor Society, Math Honor Society and Thespian Society Honor Thespian, Best Actress for 1993
TRAINING
M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction in Theatre Colorado Christian University
B.A. in TheaterPrincipia College 1997
Richard MorseDialects/Speech: Dr. Candice Coleman, 2 yearsMime: Richard Morse, Director of Richard Morse Mime Theater, NYCPeriod Styles:
Richard Morse, 4 yearsVocals: Sarah Rockabrand, 2 yearsDance:
Ballet, 2 years, Jazz, 3 years
SPECIAL SKILLS
Commedia dell'arte, Mime, Period Styles, Kabuki Theater, Stage movement, Directing, Scenic Design, Costume Design, Curriculum and Instructional Design, Teaching, Group Management, Problem solving, Vocal development, Creative writing, Playwriting, Musical Theater, Music theory, Trumpet, Singing, Swimming, Cycling
REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
Powerhouse director still seeks her perfect play
By TERRY O’CONNOR toconnor@breezenewspapers.com
POSTED: July 30, 2010
Fact Box Jennifer Kelly at a glance
Age: 35
Family: Married 13 years with one son and two daughters.
Occupation: Director of Lemon Bay High School Theater and executive director of Lemon Bay Performing Arts Academy, which she founded in 2001.
Civic: Florida State Thespian Board as the District Six Chair.
Hometown: Englewood
Residence: Englewood
Education: Master's degree in curriculum instruction at Colorado Christian University.
After 10 years teaching all aspects of theater to Lemon Bay High School students, including many from Boca Grande, Director Jennifer Kelly still has big dreams of her own, including plans for staging a sprawling epic production tentatively titled "Beautiful."
But in the meantime she continues to lead her students through life lessons on the stage. Under her tutelage Lemon Bay High School Theatre was selected among the top seven in the world when invited to perform at the International Thespian Festival June 27, 2009.
This week she shares her views of what makes for a great performance, who is her favorite director and why her mother played a large role in keeping her at LBS.
Question: You've created an internationally renowned program at Lemon Bay High School and burnished the legacy started by your own mother. What are your goals now?
Answer: My biggest goal is to design an original road show. I've been brainstorming with different professionals all over the world who are friends of mine. I hope to do a big spectacle show of music and dance and flying and special effects and projections. A tour show that would go everywhere. Called "Beautiful."
Q: Why do you continue to do this work on a high school level when you clearly are capable of so much more?
A: Basically because of my kids, I think. Obviously everybody has big dreams. But it was really important for me to give them as normal a childhood as possible. Theater here is much more normal for me than it would be if I went to New York or on the road. So I found my own personal satisfaction doing things like bringing my shows to stage or Internationals. That's been personally rewarding. As much as it's been for the kids, it's been for me, too.
Q: As an artist, how does running the show suit you?
A: It's a great gig because I get to create all the time. Constantly, constantly digging. I have had free rein.
Q: What are the frustrations of the job?
A: I have to deal with a lot of frustrations and limitations because you're dealing in the constraints of a public school. We're always sharing the facility. We have no budget so we have to raise all the funds. But even so, I've learned so much.
Q: You've continued in your mother's footsteps but that wasn't how it was planned. What happened?
A: My mom actually started the program in 1980. So that's also part of the pride of it. It's a family tradition. She still helps with the box office and costumes. She left for only two years and there was an interim where it was hurting because of the change. Any time you have a new director come in, something's not going to be the same. So the pride wasn't there, the numbers weren't there.
Q: What was it like when you started at LBS?
A: I had very small numbers of students when I came in. And we had a fairly small audience, at least compared with what we have now. So we were very limited in what we could do.
Q: How did you turn it around?
A: I had this vision and I've been bringing everybody to my vision of what it could be. My vision was it could be huge. That we could do big stuff.
Q: You've done enormous productions, particularly at the prep level. What do you envision next?
A: Now I feel like I'm always treading water to keep up with it. It's great to have a vision and then get to it. Then you lose kids so much. You lose families. You have to be constantly training. People expect it to get better every time. But it does. Somehow, magically, it does, because the kids are watching each other.
Q: What are the benefits of joining your program?
A: For the counselors, the skills they are learning because they are teaching and sharing makes them 100 times better performers and technicians and they have better work ethics. I go to a lot of festivals where directors complain all their kids do is take, take, take and they don't do any work. And I'm thinking: Not my kids.
Q: You're just one person. How do you magnify your teaching capability?
A: I've always told them I'm one. This is what I think we can do. This is what I can give you. But you have to do this and this and this with me. And they do it. And they love to do it.
Q: Are you surprised at all by the program's enormous success under your leadership?
A: At first, yes. Because you think something is strong in your head. I'm very detail oriented. I literally break my shows into eight-beat counts. That's how detailed I am. My kids know how to make a strong eight-count of anything. Even in scenery they know to focus on the smallest detail. We don't just throw something on a stage. We really work at everything.
Q: One of your LBS apex achievements was being invited to the perform "The Wedding Singer" at the International Thespian Festival.
A: When the international judges called and said to us, absolutely, not only do we want you, we want you to close the entire festival, we were blown away, we were blown away because you question yourself. I always question myself personally.
Q: What director would you emulate? Who is your favorite director?
A: I love Julie Taymor, director of "The Lion King." She is one of my biggest idols. She thinks so creatively and uses movement. For me directing is almost like a kaleidoscope that you look in and every time you twist it, it changes. I'm a huge visual arts person. So when I do a show it's always about the visuals changing all the time.
Q: What do you want theatergoers to take from a production you've put together?
A: I want them to leave slightly changed and excited. I always tell my kids to affect, not impress. They're there to affect their audience. Never leave them the way they came in.
POSTED: July 30, 2010
Fact Box Jennifer Kelly at a glance
Age: 35
Family: Married 13 years with one son and two daughters.
Occupation: Director of Lemon Bay High School Theater and executive director of Lemon Bay Performing Arts Academy, which she founded in 2001.
Civic: Florida State Thespian Board as the District Six Chair.
Hometown: Englewood
Residence: Englewood
Education: Master's degree in curriculum instruction at Colorado Christian University.
After 10 years teaching all aspects of theater to Lemon Bay High School students, including many from Boca Grande, Director Jennifer Kelly still has big dreams of her own, including plans for staging a sprawling epic production tentatively titled "Beautiful."
But in the meantime she continues to lead her students through life lessons on the stage. Under her tutelage Lemon Bay High School Theatre was selected among the top seven in the world when invited to perform at the International Thespian Festival June 27, 2009.
This week she shares her views of what makes for a great performance, who is her favorite director and why her mother played a large role in keeping her at LBS.
Question: You've created an internationally renowned program at Lemon Bay High School and burnished the legacy started by your own mother. What are your goals now?
Answer: My biggest goal is to design an original road show. I've been brainstorming with different professionals all over the world who are friends of mine. I hope to do a big spectacle show of music and dance and flying and special effects and projections. A tour show that would go everywhere. Called "Beautiful."
Q: Why do you continue to do this work on a high school level when you clearly are capable of so much more?
A: Basically because of my kids, I think. Obviously everybody has big dreams. But it was really important for me to give them as normal a childhood as possible. Theater here is much more normal for me than it would be if I went to New York or on the road. So I found my own personal satisfaction doing things like bringing my shows to stage or Internationals. That's been personally rewarding. As much as it's been for the kids, it's been for me, too.
Q: As an artist, how does running the show suit you?
A: It's a great gig because I get to create all the time. Constantly, constantly digging. I have had free rein.
Q: What are the frustrations of the job?
A: I have to deal with a lot of frustrations and limitations because you're dealing in the constraints of a public school. We're always sharing the facility. We have no budget so we have to raise all the funds. But even so, I've learned so much.
Q: You've continued in your mother's footsteps but that wasn't how it was planned. What happened?
A: My mom actually started the program in 1980. So that's also part of the pride of it. It's a family tradition. She still helps with the box office and costumes. She left for only two years and there was an interim where it was hurting because of the change. Any time you have a new director come in, something's not going to be the same. So the pride wasn't there, the numbers weren't there.
Q: What was it like when you started at LBS?
A: I had very small numbers of students when I came in. And we had a fairly small audience, at least compared with what we have now. So we were very limited in what we could do.
Q: How did you turn it around?
A: I had this vision and I've been bringing everybody to my vision of what it could be. My vision was it could be huge. That we could do big stuff.
Q: You've done enormous productions, particularly at the prep level. What do you envision next?
A: Now I feel like I'm always treading water to keep up with it. It's great to have a vision and then get to it. Then you lose kids so much. You lose families. You have to be constantly training. People expect it to get better every time. But it does. Somehow, magically, it does, because the kids are watching each other.
Q: What are the benefits of joining your program?
A: For the counselors, the skills they are learning because they are teaching and sharing makes them 100 times better performers and technicians and they have better work ethics. I go to a lot of festivals where directors complain all their kids do is take, take, take and they don't do any work. And I'm thinking: Not my kids.
Q: You're just one person. How do you magnify your teaching capability?
A: I've always told them I'm one. This is what I think we can do. This is what I can give you. But you have to do this and this and this with me. And they do it. And they love to do it.
Q: Are you surprised at all by the program's enormous success under your leadership?
A: At first, yes. Because you think something is strong in your head. I'm very detail oriented. I literally break my shows into eight-beat counts. That's how detailed I am. My kids know how to make a strong eight-count of anything. Even in scenery they know to focus on the smallest detail. We don't just throw something on a stage. We really work at everything.
Q: One of your LBS apex achievements was being invited to the perform "The Wedding Singer" at the International Thespian Festival.
A: When the international judges called and said to us, absolutely, not only do we want you, we want you to close the entire festival, we were blown away, we were blown away because you question yourself. I always question myself personally.
Q: What director would you emulate? Who is your favorite director?
A: I love Julie Taymor, director of "The Lion King." She is one of my biggest idols. She thinks so creatively and uses movement. For me directing is almost like a kaleidoscope that you look in and every time you twist it, it changes. I'm a huge visual arts person. So when I do a show it's always about the visuals changing all the time.
Q: What do you want theatergoers to take from a production you've put together?
A: I want them to leave slightly changed and excited. I always tell my kids to affect, not impress. They're there to affect their audience. Never leave them the way they came in.