Archive: 1, 2023
Mike Schwab Announced As Master Builder
We are pleased to introduce our master builder for this summer’s production, Mike Schwab. Mike is a very familiar face around LPI as he has been a part of the set building crew for 13 years! His first volunteer involvement with building was in 2010 when his son Connor tried out for “Honk”. Seven years ago, Mike decided to join the LPI Board of Directors and he has been a wonderful addition to our organization. Mike has also been very involved in building sets for the many productions put on by the Random Lake School District (high school and elementary) for the past six years.
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Jim Johnson Announced As Set Designer
LPI is happy to announce Jim Johnson as this year’s set designer for Bye Bye Birdie. Jim is delighted to design Bye Bye Birdie, his third show with LPI. His first LPI show was Willy Wonka the Musical where he was assistant director/stage manager, followed up by Guys and Dolls where he was co-director. Jim will be working alongside, Mike Schwab (master builder for Bye Bye Birdie), this summer to create the amazing world of Sweet Apple, Ohio! Jim has been directing, acting and designing for the past sixteen years at many surrounding area theaters. Jim's most memorable directing experiences include Clue On Stage, Our Town, Guys and Dolls and several murder mysteries for Memories Ballroom. Jim's favorite set designs include Beauty and the Beast, Anything Goes, Clue On Stage, The Nerd and The Secret Garden. Jim's favorite on stage roles include Jacob Marley in West Bend Theater Company's A Christmas Carol, Editor Webb in Our Town, Grandpa Joe in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Andrew McNair in 1776. We at LPI are so excited to see what Jim has up his sleeve for the design of this summer production.
Tom Kamenick Announced As Co-Music Director
We are happy to introduce one of our Music Directors for this summer’s production of Bye Bye Birdie, Tom Kamenick. Tom returns (with family members) for his 5th summer with LPI! Although he dabbles with other theater groups in the area, he has done more shows with LPI than any other theater company. Bye Bye Birdie will mark his third show as music director, having previously music directed Little Shop of Horrors and Seussical. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Education from UWM, but is now a practicing lawyer with a J.D. from Marquette University Law School. He plays piano and sings, but also has a background in cello and french horn. Past LPI shows include Annie Get Your Gun (Charlie Davenport), Wizard of Oz (Emerald City Guard), Shrek (Donkey), and Guys & Dolls (Nicely Nicely). Prior to law school, Tom taught two years of high school music (two choirs, two handbell choirs, African drumming, and a theater workshop) and a bit of middle school (choirs and general music). He also directed a church choir in Germantown for 14 years and sings with his current church, Grace Lutheran in Grafton. During law school, he worked as accompanist and assistant choir director for the Marquette University choirs. We at LPI could not be more excited to welcome Tom into this production staff position for this summer’s production. Tom will be teaming up with Nikki Anderson as Co-Music Directors for this summer’s production of Bye Bye Birdie.
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Nikki Anderson Announced As Co-Music Director
We could not be more excited to welcome back Nikki Anderson to our production staff for this summer's production! Nikki is returning for her 4th stint as music director for an LPI show (her 11th overall). Nikki will be teaming up with Tom Kamenick this summer to assist in the music director position. She has been a music teacher at Random Lake schools for the past 16 years and has directed over 25 plays and musicals in that time - all of them in her home away from home, the Random Lake District Auditorium.
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