A More Happier Crew, Part 2

Continuing introductions of the fantastic Mary Poppins crew, I next move to our Stage Managers. Yes, that’s right, plural! With so many moving parts to a show like this, I thought it would be best for us to have two captains steering the ship once we go into production. I work so long on the show, that by the time Tech Week comes I am always EAGER to hand over the reins to someone else! Then I can kick back a little and the work turns into fun.

Our stage managers for this production are Bill Barr and John Donlan, both of whom co-stage managed the impressive production of Kinky Boots that just closed at Peoria Players. Bill has stage managed FIVE productions for me previously including the mega awesome Rock of Ages in 2017, pictured below. (He’s far right in the front row), and what I love about working with Bill is how much he takes care of when stage managing…things that as director you can forget or not even know about, Bill already has it covered. Before you can think to ask something, he already has it done. His energy and enthusiasm is a breath of fresh air when he arrives to the production!  Another fun connection I have with Bill is that in 2014 he officiated our wedding for Jenny and I!

John (“JD”) and I have worked on several shows together in various capacities (also pictured as part of the Rock of Ages crew). He is a workhorse and perfectionist, and I’m eager to have him working in this capacity. He also gets on stage quite frequently; the first time we worked together was when he played Sheriff Ed Earl in THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS which I directed in 2016. I should also mention something very important: they BOTH throw excellent parties!

John is joined by his other half, the lovely Jennifer Hodum who will be our House Manager and Co-Production Secretary. She has been working props and various backstage jobs since getting involved over the past year or so, but this is the FIRST show that I will get to do with Jen! House managers, in case you didn’t know, are sort of the opposite or complement to stage manger; while the Stage Manager takes care of everything on stage and backstage during the show, the House Manager takes care of things everywhere else (and at the Tent, that's quite a lot!) 

Our other Production Secretary will be Sarah Beth Leasor. SB and I go way back, to our first show together in 2005 (in a production of CATS) to appearing in the first show I directed  (Pippin in 2007), and she has been production secretary on many shows for me since. When you direct, it can sometimes be hard to listen to other opinions and ideas when your mind is made up, but SB has an eye and opinion I trust implicitly (she co-directed Peoria Players Billy Elliot in 2017), and I love having her help on a show. 

The picture is us at our Chorus Line Dance Workshop from early 2019. As an added bonus, she’s promised to bring Morgan along for the show, the cutest and best behaved baby you’ve ever seen! (she's also in the picture, sort of:))

Every director has their people that they just need to have around to calm their nerves and keep them sane, and because they know the production will be better for it...and these are mine! 

More to come later!