Opening Thursday July 12th, with a matinee and evening performance, Chicago, has been the long awaited show of the Tibbits season. Back to direct, is Kevin Halpin, who directed Fully Monty last summer, and has been returning on a regular basis to direct the big musical of the summer since 2005. 
Two summers ago, Kevin's daughter, Aisling Halpin, joined us as a performer here at Tibbits. Since then, she has graduated from Syracuse University with a BFA in Musical Theatre and is now living in NYC. She worked last summer at Merry Go Round Playhouse in Auburn, NY, but is back to join us this summer at Tibbits as Roxie Hart in Chicago. Aisling will also be in Funny Money this summer at Tibbits, on top of that, she is choreographing Nymph Errant, her first professional choreography credit, and will also being in the show as well.
As a father and daughter team, Kevin told me he couldn't be more proud of the person and performer Aisling is, "she isn't just a beautiful, very talented girl, but a real team player as well." He is excited to return to Tibbits at the end of the season to see Aisling's first professional choreographed show.
Kevin and Aisling went to the same undergraduate school for their BFA's in Musical Theatre, Syracuse University. Kevin then attended Brooklyn College for his MFA degree in Directing. His first professional directing job was here at Tibbits as well, The Music Man, in 1991, where my husband, Paul Kerr, played the music man himself, Harold Hill.
After grad school, Kevin taught at Millikin University for 3 years, and then created the musical theatre program at SUNY Cortland, where he continues to lead the program today. His wife Cindy also teaches at the college, but after they outgrew the dance facilities at their university, they opened a Performing Arts Institute, with two studio spaces in downtown Cortland, NY.
Kevin's connection to Tibbits goes back even further than directing. He and his wife were performers here in the summer of 1985, and Aisling grew up hearing of this magic place called Tibbits. She visited Tibbits the summer of 2007 while touring colleges, while her dad was directing us in Sweet Charity. Fast forward three more years, Aisling was now an acting company member of Tibbits, and this summer is a returning company member.
Kevin began performing in 8th grade, as Charlie Brown in You're a Good Man Charlie Brown. He began dance training in college, performed and choreographed at many theatres before returning to grad school for his MFA in Directing.
Aisling has been dancing all her life, her first performance was at 3 years old in her mother's ballet based off the movie "Hook's" soundtrack, she was baby Michael. This was just the beginning for Aisling. She performed many roles throughout her childhood for surrounding theatres like Gateway Playhouse and Cortland Rep. She even played "Dainty June," at SUNY Cortland in her father's production of Gypsy.
Kevin states that his dream shows to direct are West Side Story and A Chorus Line. Aisling's dream roles to perform are Millie in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, Natalie in Next to Normal, and Sherrie in Rock of Ages. While Roxie Hart is one of Aisling's dream roles as well, she gets to fulfill that dream this summer, along side of her very proud father/director.
Aisling, when asked why she wanted to return to Tibbits, she said she loves Tibbits for the quality of shows that we do, and that everyone who works here loves what they are doing. Kevin's advice for young people wanting to direct is to study at a good program and build your skills such as play analysis, technical theatre, movement, and communication skills with actors. Aisling advises young actors, "if you love what you do and are willing to work hard, you can do it."
Kevin has many of his students or former students from SUNY Cortland here this summer. He has included auditioning for Tibbits, by video reel, a part of his curriculum for his upper level musical theatre class. However, he does offer this audition opportunity to all his students. The final casting decision is up to Tibbits Artistic Director, Charles Burr, but Kevin has always stressed to his students the value in pursuing professional connections.
One such student, who did just that, is first year Tibbits company member Catherine Skojec. She has just finished her freshman year at SUNY Cortland, pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre. Catherine has been seen highlighted in our On Broadway 1956 review and will appear as Go-To-Hell Kitty in Chicago. Catherine is originally from Binghamton, NY. She began dancing at age 4, but continued to alternate dance with sports until high school, when she began doing shows. Catherine is delighted to be spending the summer here in Coldwater and we are delighted to have her.
Come see Chicago opening July 12th and playing until July 21st.
See you at the show!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment