Tim

I met Tim last year during The Wizard of Oz with Opera SLO. He literally came in and saved the show. A little later, I asked him to build the gingerbread house for Hansel and Gretel. I'll admit, I was a little nervous because it was such a specific piece, but he absolutely came through. That's when we really started talking, and at one point he simply said, "Just tell me what to build, and I'll do it for you." He told me about his old theater company, and I remember saying, "We should do a show together someday."

Then Oliver! came along, and I called him. Never in a million years did I imagine what he was actually capable of.

Every crazy idea I had, whether it was a sketch on a napkin, something I described with my hands, or something that wasn't even written down, Tim somehow turned into reality. He never rolled his eyes, never said it couldn't be done, and always found a way to make the vision happen. As a director, that kind of collaboration is priceless.

What makes it even more incredible is that he did all of this while juggling life with a one year old daughter. He arranged babysitters, balanced family life, and on the days that wasn't possible, she came along to meetings and rehearsals. Somehow he made it all work without ever making it seem like a burden.

After the show finally closed, we got to actually sit down, relax, and talk about theater, productions, and where we both want to go from here. The funniest part was meeting his wife, who was an incredible host. She had clearly heard a lot about me, and I realized just how much Tim had been talking about our work together. Knowing how much he respected me as a collaborator meant more than I can say.

The audience saw the sets, the scenery, and everything that made Oliver! come to life. What they didn't see was the guy behind it all who quietly made the impossible possible. Thank you, Tim. This was just the beginning.

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