Seldom has a retiring artistic director been sent off with such love and theatrics! After 25 years, Steve Tomkins stepped down to serious musical theatre fanfare at this Village Theatre gala May 27, 2018. Steve directed and/or choreographed me in more than 10 shows over the years and, like so many others, I’m grateful to him for the work, the joy, and the memories. What a treat to join the gang onstage and off at this gala occasion, and to relive favorite “Steve shows” together (a few pictured below).
Singing to Steve with the rest of his “Dreamgirls”.
Rehearsing the “Dreamgirls” number featuring several decades’ worth of VT leading ladies and dance captains!
Steve losing his mind.
As Ruth in “Wonderful Town”, my first show for Steve.
As Molly in “The Unsinkable Molly Brown”.
As Elsie Campbell in “The Bootlegger”.
As The Incomparable Rosalie in “Carnival”, one of my all-time faves. Stilt-walkers, aerialists, a pony, two dogs, a boa constrictor, a rabbit, magic acts and puppets. I brought it up to Steve at his retirement dinner and he said “What the hell was I thinking?”
“Humming” (pictured with Dale Green).
As Billie in “Babes In Arms”, with Jason Collins and Greg Michael Allen. Another all-time fave.
As Gloria in “Damn Yankees”.
As Sally Bowles in “Cabaret” (pictured with Mark Sparks).
With Steve on closing night of “It Should Have Been You” (2012).