Page 18 - Sensitive Guys Playbilll 08.15.20

WHO’S WHO

Syndicate Live! (Stage Crew); The Santa Fe recently directed The Threepenny Opera
Opera: Die Fledermaus (Props Run Crew), for The Santa Fe University of Art and
The Golden Cockerel (Assistant Run Crew Design and Sexy Laundry for the renowned
Chief), The Revolution of Steve Jobs (Props Peterborough Players. Prior to his arrival
Run Crew), Apprentice Scenes - Night 2 at Stages, Kenn spent eleven years at
(Assistant Run Crew Chief). Jamie would Great Lakes Theater Festival in Cleveland.
like to thank her family and friends for their At Great Lakes, Kenn helped to build the
continued love and support. largest theatre-based education program
for a performing arts institution in the
KENN MCLAUGHLIN (Artistic Director) state of Ohio. He directed the company’s
The 2020-2021 season marks Kenn award-winning School Residency Program
McLaughlin’s fifteenth season as Stages’ and commissioned several new theatre
artistic leader, following five successful works including Brother Can You Spare
years as the theatre’s Managing Director. a Dime: The Social Conscience of the
Kenn has produced more than 100 American Musical, The Way You Look
productions, including record-breaking Tonight, Straight on ‘til Morning, and a
hits like The Marvelous Wonderettes new adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry’s
and Late Nite Catechism series; The To Be Young, Gifted and Black. Kenn also
Great American Trailer Park Musical co-founded The Wallpaper Project, an
and revivals of the theatre’s landmark annual oral history performance program
original musical Always…Patsy Cline; as in rural Ohio. Kenn has taught workshops
well as pivotal world and U.S. premieres for the Center for Literature and Medicine
such as De Kus, Black Pearl Sings, An and has twice presented workshops
American Brat, Miss Teen nine original at the National Council of Teachers of
Pantomime productions, and The Great English. In 2018 Kenn was guest speaker
American Trailer Park Christmas Musical. to the Academic Sympoisum of the
He has directed over 30 shows for Stages. Texas Educational Theatre Association.
Highlights include: Auntie Mame, Road In Houston, Kenn has taught classes
Show, Grey Gardens, Full Gallop, The in creativity at Rice University and in
Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in directing at Sam Houston State University,
the Universe, Mack and Mabel, Speech as well as teaching diversity awareness
and Debate, The Man Who Shot Liberty to cadets at the Houston Police Academy
Valance, Stupid Fucking Bird, The Blonde, and serving as a guest lecturer for Harris
The Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead County’s Department of Education CASE
and the world premiere of Miss Teen. program. He has served as chair of the
He has also written the book for two of capital campaign and of the stewardship
Stages’ hit musicals: Panto Mother Goose committee of First Congregational Church
and A Midnight Clear both with music by of Houston where he has also served on
composer David Nehls. This season, Kenn the long-range planning and education
has directed The Doyle and Debbie Show, committees. Kenn completed the Executive
Salt, Root and Roe, The Fantasticks and Non-Profit Leaders program through the
will direct the world premiere of Hook’s Graduate School of Business at Stanford
Tale. Beyond Houston, Kenn’s musical, I’ll University and holds a BFA in acting from
Be Home for Christmas (also written with The Theatre School, DePaul University
David Nehls) received its World Premiere
production at the Arvada Center for the
Arts and Humanities in Denver and was
nominated for a Henry Award for Best New
Play/Musical. Outside of Houston, Kenn