Terry Newell Kring:
CLASS OF 1968
Mcfarland High SchoolClass of 1968
Mcfarland, CA
University of MichiganClass of 1990
Ann arbor, MI
University of Colorado - TheatreClass of 1980
Boulder, CO
Northwestern UniversityClass of 1976
Evanston, IL
Northwestern University - MusicClass of 1974
Evanston, IL
Terry Newell's Story
Since high school (subtitled: a man on the move):
Attended Northwestern University, entering as an engineering student (what was I thinking?), then transferred to the School of Music (had no clue what I wanted to be when I grew up, so, I figured I might as well enjoy what I was studying) and completed a Bachelor of Music Education in 1973. Upon graduation, began playing trumpet professionally (would rather DO than teachÿ although I have done my share of teaching over the years, having extensively (at least early in my career) used substitute teaching to fill my time between free-lance contracts) , but soon found himself more in demand as a music director and pit conductor for musical theatre. To be honest, I took the theatre gigs because they had money for an orchestraÿ and I wanted to work on my conducting. Little did I know it would open up the door to a passionÿ.andÿ finally found what I wanted to be: a director for the stage. However, having entered into this world through the ÿside doorÿ of music direction,ÿ. And having suffered through too many directors of musicals who lacked enough of a common vocabulary to be able to convey to me (as musical director) how I could feed their ÿvisionÿÿ. I felt the need to ÿgather vocabularyÿ ÿ and I went back to school.
First to my alma mater, Northwestern. Lacking any experience in design, I took a class from Sam Ball (then president of the Chicago branch of the United Scenic Artists). That turned into a year under his tutledge, until a chance opportunity presented itselfÿand I signed up for a season as Assistant to the Artistic Director of Central City Opera Company in Colorado (given my music background , design training, and desire to direct, opera appeared to be a logical place for me. Well. Not as a director, it wasnÿt. So, I eased into a season as an actor doing ÿmelodramaÿ in at the foot of Pikes Peak , and then, slid into the University of Colorado to get a Masterÿs in Theatre, before finally returning to Chicago. Not before, however composing (and later, both producing and directing a regional tour of the same) ÿRocky Flats: a Nuclear Musical , The return to Chicago proved short lived, however, as a request by a former college buddy (and the original director of Rocky Flats) to come to New York City for a few weeks to help with the development of a new musical entitled ÿAcross the Universeÿ, a trip which turned into a seven year stay in the Big Apple. Highlights of that time: toured Europe as the lighting designer and associate conductor of the Harlem Opera Companies production of ÿPorgy and Bessÿ, directed the Off comedy ÿBrandy Before Breakfastÿ, and in 1986, met Roxy Meggersÿ We were married a year later, and the two of us moved to Tampa Florida to accommodate a career opportunity for Roxy. (wanting to side step the glass ceiling she was butting up against after six y...Expand for more
ears in the corporate offices of Conde Nast, Roxy took a step down to make a lateral move into that companies Marketing and Merchandizing Group. To do so meant moving, and it was off to Florida . After three months (for me) of total frustration of trying to figure out how to put my skills to work.... I hooked up with a small professional theater company... And e rest, as it seems now, was a roller coaster ride. I directed four shows in the next 8 months, and was contracted for most of the year to come when Roxy was offered a promotion. So.... Another move. This time to Detroit area. But.... We opted for Ann Arbor, with the thought that I would go back to school, which I did. Four months in, however, the graduate program at U of M began to fall apart, as in:.. One after another, half of the graduate faculty ( as in, the half I was interested in learning from)..... Left. So, I found myself in a program I really did not want to be in. And then came that pivotal moment:
As part of the "moving to a new location" process Roxy got involved in community theater in the area, and I offered my skills to the projects she was involved in as often as schedule allowed. At some point, that lead to me being asked to be a part of an advisory board/think tank for a local community theatre group that was trying to re - define itself. It was a surprise , at the first meeting of tlis group, to see film actor Jeff Daniels there. But it turned out that he had, back in high school, been a founding member of this organization ..... And they had roped him in as well. Now, what New York had taught me was....while stars walk the street, they live here and should be treated like everyone Else. He, and I , were just another voice at the table. And , while he and I seemed to be tryingater that was focused to gently guide this group......
It all came to a crashing halt after the fourth meeting where (as I was to learn) Jeff hit the wall...... And stopped the me (literally) with one foot on the curb and one in the gutter... And blurted out that he was here because, as the home town hero that went away and became a star.... The home town was saying you have money do something with it . And he wanted to. But not just to fork over money. He wanted to do something he believed in. And... He was aware that he had been plucked from the backwaters of Michigi only learned all this later. 'an and plopped into downtown manhattan simply because of a chance encounter with artistic director from circle rep. So...... He wanted to start a theater. Dedicated to providing an opportunity for all the Michiga- I-want-t- be theatre people. A place to explore Profesional theater with out having to commit to the move to NYC
And he stopped me one night after that fourth meeting and pitched the project to me. Start a theater in Michigan devoted to developing talent that can move on..... Or give guidance to not bother....
Oh dear. What should I do.
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