:) Welcome Back Tommy!!

DIRECTOR’S NOTE FROM TOMMY IAFRATE

After a period as Kaleidoscope’s Assistant Artistic Director
during the winter/spring of 2005-2006, Tommy Iafrate took
a year sabbatical to work in the music department at the
Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut. While
there, he had the opportunity to work with such remarkable
musicians/performers as Micky Dolenz, John McDaniel, and
Stephen Schwartz. After a wonderful and successful year at
the Goodspeed, Tommy is happy to be taking the knowledge
that he has gained back to Kaleidoscope Theatre, where he is
taking over as full-time Artistic Director as of January 1,
2007. Here’s what he has to say about his new position at
Kaleidoscope:


Hello everybody!

First and foremost, I would like to thank our newsletter
subscribers for the incredible support that you have given to
Kaleidoscope Theatre over the years! It is because of our
wonderful audiences that we are able to accomplish all that
we do, and because of the appreciation we receive that we
continue to enjoy every moment of our jobs!

When I was growing up, I used to love the beach. My mother
and I would drive down all the time in the summer, and I would
be so excited to spend a day playing in the sand, swimming in
the surf, and boogie-boarding! I also remember that every
Tuesday, my mother would ask me if I would rather go to the
beach, or go to the Warwick Musical Theatre to see one of
Kaleidoscope Theatre’s fairytale musicals. Without fail, I
always picked the theatre over the beach!

I remember eagerly waiting in line for our tickets, smelling
the popcorn and hearing the murmur of the crowd inside. I
remember sitting down on those brightly colored chairs, and
my mother making me guess which fairytale we were about to
see by the set that was already on the stage (“See that red
cloak hanging on the coatrack?...”). I remember being
absolutely enthralled by the performers on stage and laughing
at the funny jokes and the silly characters. And I remember
being mesmerized when meeting them all afterwards and having
them sign my coloring poster.

Kaleidoscope Theatre was a wonderful part of my childhood,
and helped to mold the way that I view and appreciate theatre.
In high school, it was such an honor to begin performing with
them, and eventually helping out in the office. As the years
have progressed and my involvement has grown more and more,
Kaleidoscope Theatre has only continued to give me more
wonderful experiences and more amazing opportunities.

I am very excited about the prospects that the next few years
present to our company. With the newly-added support of two
full-time members on our staff and the resources available
through our partnering with the Homestead Group, the
possibilities for Kaleidoscope Theatre are endless. I am
looking forward to these exciting opportunities, as well as
continuing to provide the wholesome, fun-filled, family
entertainment that our audiences (including myself!) have
grown to know and love over the years!

Thank you all,
Tommy