Brian has been actively involved in the arts as a performer, director, producer and arts administrator for nearly 40 years.  His early career as a actor included performing Off-Broadway under such directors as Word Baker, Elinor Renfield and Julian Boyd and in touring productions of “Hello, Dolly,” “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” and “Baby.”   He has taught Acting and Musical Theatre at HB Studios and The Actors Institute in New York City.
 
Brian has served as Artistic Producer for three theatre companies: Contemporary Theatre Productions in Oklahoma City,, Spotlight Theatre in Mississauga (both not for profits) and Followspot Theatre in Toronto (commercial).  He has directed over thirty-two productions, including the Canadian premiere of the Dora nominated musical  “Falsettos.”   He has working with Canadian Stage Company, Tarragon Theatre, Gryphon Theatre  and Smile Theatre Company.  Brian  was the first director to simultaneously produce and direct two productions in the Toronto Fringe.

He and his partner were the first recipients of a Commercial Theatre Development Grant.  He is also an award winning set designer   Brian was honoured to serve twice as a juror for the Dora Mavor Moore Awards, General Theatre Category.

As an arts administrator, Brian worked for the Toronto Theatre Alliance, managing and restructuring T.O.Tix from a member service to a substantial revenue source.  He served as Vice President of the Ontario Professional Ticketing Association and was on the Steering Committee and Communications Chair of the 2001 INTIX Conference in Toronto.  He has  served as Director of Development for the Mississauga Symphony, as Marketing Consultant for Artword Theatre, as Consulting Producer for Actors’ Repertory Theatre and as General Manager for ShakespeareWorks.

Currently, Brian is the Fund Development Officer for the St. Catharines and Area Arts Council.   A recent “immigrant” to the Niagara Region, he is astounded by the wealth of talent and dedication to the performing arts that he has found here.  He is excited to be able to work through the Arts Council to provide a sustainable environment in which the performing arts of the region may continue to grow and flourish.

Click the St.Catharines and Area Arts Council logo below to view their website.

Bryan W: 
What inspired you to pursue theatre with your life? 

Brian K:
The communication between audience and artist … that connection is participatory on both sides and palpably felt.  And  the challenge of creating a consistent and specific “reality.” 

Bryan W: 
What is your favourite on-stage and favourite off-stage moment of your career in and around theatre?

Brian K:
Onstage:  Playing Dr. Bradman in Blithe Spirit, first séance scene, crossing my legs a beat after Madame Arcati says “Of course, some of you may have an emanation!”

Off stage:  Opening night of Falsettos, after the final fade out, complete silence, then a roar of applause.  I directed Falsettos during the Mike Harris years when family was being defined rather narrowly.  Falsettos is about the broader definition of “chosen family.”  Together, the cast, crew, designers and audience celebrated loudly that broader definition.

Bryan W:
What sort of things do you see happening to the theatre scene here in St.Catharines over the next 2-5 years?

Brian K:
I see a growing audience base that regularly visits theatre as an entertainment option. I see established theatre groups getting stronger through strategic partnerships with each other and with the business community. I see St.Catharines becoming known as an innovative, vital and exciting theatre town.  

Bryan W: 
How can young people interested in theatre start getting involved?

Brian K:
Volunteering.  Start by volunteering for theatre groups in your community.  There is a wide choice of theatres, professional, semi-professional and academic, at which one can volunteer.  Not only will you learn, you will start your network which will serve you throughout your career.

Bryan W:
Who is your favourite actor / actress, and why? Favourite Writer?

Brian K:
Favourite Actor:  Michael C. Hall for his subtlety.

Favourite Actress: Chita Rivera for her longevity and dedication to the stage.

Favourite Writer: Eugene O'Neil for the raw emotion behind his sublime language.

Bryan W: 
If you could share the stage with any cast for any show, what would it be and who would be on stage with you?

Brian K:
It would take a lot to get me back on stage.  But I’d go back into training for a benefit performance of “Merrily We Roll Along” for the Performing Arts Centre.  The musical starts out with the lead characters being “middle aged” and then they “youth-en” each subsequent scene until they are at the beginning of young adulthood.  For the first two scenes, I’d be Charles Kringas, with Rosemary Hale as Mary and Benedict Campbell as Franklin Shepherd (some one’s got to carry Rosemary and me).  Then we turn it over to each and every theatre group in St. Kitts to do two scenes, ending with Brock students doing the final two.  What an evening that would be!