August 28, 2020
Get to Know the President of Music Theater Works’ Board of Directors!
Meet Rosie Rees, the president of Music Theater Works’ board. While some of you may not know her personally, Producing Artistic Director Kyle Dougan wanted to take a moment for you to get to know her and see how she helps make Music Theater Works the best that it can be.
KAD: “What sparked your interest in theater? Were you involved in the arts from a young age?”
RR: “I grew up in a small town in eastern Pennsylvania. The schools had few resources and did not put an emphasis on the arts. But I had one teacher in high school (a math teacher who had grown up in Brooklyn) who thought it was important to expose us to the arts. He started an arts club and took us on a field trip to New York City when I was a senior. I saw an off-Broadway production of ‘Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris.’ That was all it took. I became a music theater lover from then on.”
KAD: “Does your career interact with the artistic world?”
RR: “No. I am a retired real estate lawyer. But my career afforded me a sufficient income to attend many theatrical and musical performances in the Chicago area over many years. Besides Music Theater Works, my husband and I have subscriptions to Chicago Shakespeare Theater, The Goodman, Broadway in Chicago, and Marriott.”
KAD: “Why do you love theater/the performing arts? What do you think they provide to the community?”
RR: “The arts are transportive. They take me to different worlds, enrich my life with new ideas, let me laugh out loud with humor, and just plain make me happy when I hear a lovely melody. All the things that I receive from the arts, as I described above, the arts give to our community.”
KAD: “How did you get involved with Music Theater Works?”
RR: “Bridget McDonough is a member of the Evanston Rotary Club with my husband, Gene Servillo. That’s how we learned about Music Theater Works. We’ve been a subscriber for many years. When Bridget was looking for new board members, she asked Gene and me if one of us would be interested in joining the Board. I jumped at the chance.”
KAD: “What do you think makes Music Theater Works special?”
RR: “Few theater companies in this area put on performances of Broadway musicals and light opera works like MTW does, with a full orchestra and complete understanding of how the show was originally performed. We are committed to giving our audiences the best there is to offer in this genre. It never fails to please.”
KAD: “How do you want or anticipate Music Theater Works to grow in the future?”
RR: “Kyle Dougan, our new producing artistic director, has proven to be exactly what MTW needs at this moment in time: Young, creative, enthusiastic, forward-thinking.”
KAD: “What is your favorite Music Theater Works production?”
RR: “Oh, that’s a hard one! I don’t know if I can pick just one. Fiddler on the Roof came to mind right away, but then I thought of South Pacific with Larry Adams, Cabaret with Rudy, and My Fair Lady with Nick Sandys. Nope, I just can’t pick one.”
Rees hopes the Music Theater Works community is safe and well during this uncertain time. She looks forward to seeing you all again in the future and hopes you enjoy “Richard Rodgers’ Greatest Hits” this weekend!