It's funny how things work out. An old friend of mine and I were talking about the rough theatre season, and the closing of the Blowing Rock Stage Company. Its artistic director was former South Floridian Kenneth Kay.
I've known Ken Kay for years; we met when I was ASM on some show at Florida Stage (back when it was still Theatre Club). Long before I started critiquing the reviewers, Ken would respond to reviews that he found lacking, sending in long letters analyzing the review's (and the reviewer's) flaws in no uncertain terms. One year, as he recieved his Carbonell, he used the opportunity to point out that we, the south Florida theatre community, had all but ignored the legacy of Ruth Foreman, who was one of the first producers of true regional theatre in South Florida.
He and his wife, actress Kim Cozort, had moved to North Carolina to take on Blowing Rock, expanding its programming and moving it into a new space before it abruptly shut down, a victim of the economy. I said that I'd heard that BRSC artistic director Ken Kay and his wife, actress Kim Cozort, were going to move back to South Florida.
My buddy leaned into me, and in a conspiratorial whisper informed me:
Of course, anyone who's ever worked for Burt (which includes me, my old friend, and Ken Kay and his wife and a score of others) knows that "The Bandit" can only be one person: Burt Reynolds.
20 years ago, Burt was a demi-god on the local theatre scene. Pretty much everyone who's been working in South Florida theatre in the last three decades owes a debt to Burt Reynolds, who decided against all reason to put his dinner theatre in Jupiter, Florida. He trained scores of actors and technicians, many of whom are working in theatre, film and television across the country and around the globe. His fortunes shifted, and about 15 years ago his presence on the local theatre scene began to wane.
So, I thought, he's starting it up again.... Then my buddy shrugged said "Well, I don't know if that's for public consumption or not." Of course, I assured him that I wouldn't leak the word.
I've known Ken Kay for years; we met when I was ASM on some show at Florida Stage (back when it was still Theatre Club). Long before I started critiquing the reviewers, Ken would respond to reviews that he found lacking, sending in long letters analyzing the review's (and the reviewer's) flaws in no uncertain terms. One year, as he recieved his Carbonell, he used the opportunity to point out that we, the south Florida theatre community, had all but ignored the legacy of Ruth Foreman, who was one of the first producers of true regional theatre in South Florida.
He and his wife, actress Kim Cozort, had moved to North Carolina to take on Blowing Rock, expanding its programming and moving it into a new space before it abruptly shut down, a victim of the economy. I said that I'd heard that BRSC artistic director Ken Kay and his wife, actress Kim Cozort, were going to move back to South Florida.
My buddy leaned into me, and in a conspiratorial whisper informed me:
"You know, he got a call from The Bandit..."
Of course, anyone who's ever worked for Burt (which includes me, my old friend, and Ken Kay and his wife and a score of others) knows that "The Bandit" can only be one person: Burt Reynolds. 20 years ago, Burt was a demi-god on the local theatre scene. Pretty much everyone who's been working in South Florida theatre in the last three decades owes a debt to Burt Reynolds, who decided against all reason to put his dinner theatre in Jupiter, Florida. He trained scores of actors and technicians, many of whom are working in theatre, film and television across the country and around the globe. His fortunes shifted, and about 15 years ago his presence on the local theatre scene began to wane.
So, I thought, he's starting it up again.... Then my buddy shrugged said "Well, I don't know if that's for public consumption or not." Of course, I assured him that I wouldn't leak the word.
And I didn't, and haven't. Bill Hirschman did, for the Sun-Sentinel.
BroadwayWorld.com picked up the story just a little while ago, and brings us the Institute's website: http://www.brift.org.Film icon and Florida native Burt Reynolds is reopening his Jupiter acting conservatory that trained hundreds of students during the 1980s and '90s.
Although the new Burt Reynolds Institute of Film and Theatre Training will not revive the dinner theater that starred celebrities, the long-range plans include finding a 99-seat theater, said Suzanne Niedland, chairman of the board.
A key element will fall in place this week when veteran South Florida actor and director Kenneth Kay returns to become executive director and the institute's only paid employee. Kay was an intern at the old institute in the 1981 and served as its artistic director in 1993-95.
So, it's official: The Bandit called Ken Kay, and fun is about to begin again.
This is great news for the South Florida theatre scene; but not because Burt is starting another acting school: it's great because Burt brought back Ken Kay and Kim Cozort to South Florida. Welcome back! And thanks, Bandit!
Is this before or after Bandit comes out of rehab?
ReplyDeleteWELL BECAUSE MR KEN KAYE BECAME A BIG SHOT WITH BURT REYNOLDS HE SHOULD NOT FORGET THOSE CRITICS IN SOUTH FLORIDA THAT GAVE HIM HIS START WUTH THEIR REVIEWS
ReplyDeleteCHECK IT OUT KEN
MAKE CONTACT BURT RICHARDS
Heck, Burt, I didn't mean to make Ken sound like a heavy; he's just really passionate about his craft. From my experience, he's never been one to forget where he came from.
ReplyDeleteyo Anonymous(Burt Richards) thats K A Y with no E..Ken's not related to Danny nor Stubby...signed Jimboleus C. Interuptus
ReplyDelete