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This time of year, I always feel like I’m juggling. It’s the busiest time of year for me in my financial aid director role at the local community college. Classes start Monday and every student has a question about their financial aid. I have a great staff who work really hard, but this time of year is just exhausting. On top of that, I am usually directing a play at this time of year. Charlotte’s Web is the show this year and it’s been a wonderful experience so far, but every night, I come home exhausted. One top of that, my daughters have to get ready to return to school – one is in high school, one is in middle school and one is is elementary school. Fortunately my wife handles much of the logistics for all of that. (She won’t start directing her play until October.) So there’s many balls in their air and I’m trying my best to keep them from hitting the ground. I usually succeed, mostly because a lot of people are helping me with all of these projects, but whew! I am tired all the time.

But it’s a good tired.

(My girls.)

All of these tasks are energizing at the same time as they are exhausting. I love directing – working with young actors is incredibly rewarding and so much fun. I enjoy my job as a financial aid director – great colleagues and we’re doing important work. And of course, my girls mean everything to me so getting them ready for school and being a part of their adventures is exhilarating too.

In 1997, I started Dreamwell Theatre with my wife and two friends. We didn’t know exactly what we wanted to do when we started it – we just knew we wanted to create live theatre. After an interactive murder mystery party for the employees of a local newspaper, we decided on our first ‘real’ show – Of Mice and Men. There are a lot of stories about that show I could share (and probably will at some point), but the end result of it was we wanted to do another show. And then another. Along the way we carved our niche in the community as the theatre that is willing to produce the plays other theatres wouldn’t. We’re an award winning theatre, we’ve performed in many, many different locations, and we’ve partnered with other theatres to create some exciting shows. I am very proud of the work of Dreamwell Theatre.

As I near the 20 year anniversary, it occurs to me that 20 years is a long time to do any one thing. And it’s time for me to turn the page. I’m going to stay with Dreamwell until the end of the 20th season, but my role will lessen a lot. I’ll be on the board as an advisor, not as president or any other officer. And in July 2018, I am retiring from the board. So what’s next?

In a couple of words, Young Footliters. Footliters is the local children’s theatre. I’ve directed two shows for them and will direct my third this August. I’ve also had the opportunity to direct shows I’ve written. And I get to work my daughters, who both love theatre. By leaving Dreamwell, I’ll be able to devote much more my time to Footliters. I’m officially joining their board in August. I have some education ideas I’d like to suggest. And I definitely want to help out in any way I can. I feel a passion for this work and I’m excited to follow that passion and see where it takes me.