Meet director Jerry McKeen. After a little time away from theatre, he got back into action with us last year, and we’re so glad he did!
Last year he directed Eleeomosynary and it was a truly outstanding piece of theatre. Very recently he mentored our newest director, Susan Capicotto Nichols, as she made her directorial debut with Holy Cannoli. Now, Jerry’s back in the director’s chair as he prepares to hold auditions for The Fantasticks along with musical director, Joshua Stubbs.
This isn’t the first time Jerry has directed the The Fantasticks. He directed the show with the Clarksburg Art Center back in the 1970s. He directed several other productions with that organization while it was still at the old Marshall Street location.
During that time, Jerry also worked both as a Producer and as a Director with the Harrison County Summer Youth Theatre Program that produced Broadway musicals at the Robinson Grand Theater including “Guys and Dolls”, ” The King and I” and “Oliver”. And as an educational administrator in Harrison County, he was instrumental in the development of theatre programs that are still active and growing in local high schools.
Before retiring, Jerry served as teacher and assistant principal first in Octorara and Solanco High Schools in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and later here in Harrison County at Victory, Liberty, and Roosevelt-Wilson High Schools. He was the principal at South Harrison High School when he retired in 2003.
As an undergraduate at Fairmont State College, Jerry McKeen appeared in twelve of the fourteen productions presented during his undergrad years. It was working under the direction of theatre professors Lawrence Wallman, Jo Ann Lough, Brad Smoker, Bill Hanks, and Dean George Turley that he developed a life-long love for the stage. He went on to earn a Masters Degree in Education and Theatre Arts from Penn State University where he worked as a graduate assistant with the Penn State Summer Professional Theatre programs.
His semi-professional experience includes acting with the Gilded Cage Summer Theatre and the Guernsey Barn Theatre in Lancaster County Pennsylvania and directing and acting at the Orleans Tavern in Columbia, PA. In addition he directed many high school productions in Pennsylvania and later, here in Harrison County.
Recently he taught children’s theatre and directed elementary students in performances for the YMCA After School Program at Nutter Fort.
As a community theatre, we love to provide opportunities for new directors, but we are especially grateful to have experienced directors like Jerry working with us, too. Local actors are sure to gain a lot working with him in The Fantasticks.
Open auditions are set for Saturday, August 16, at 10:30 am and Monday, August 18 at 6:30 pm at the Friedlander Center in Clarksburg. If you can’t make either date, but would like to auditions by appointment, contact Jerry at 304-931-4424.