LAKEWOOD THEATRE COMPANY’S EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, KAY VEGA, TAKES ON NEW ROLE AT LAKEWOOD
Lakewood Theatre Company has announced that Kay Vega, long-time Executive Producer, on staff since July 1981, and volunteer since 1970, will be retiring in the 2015/16 season. Ms. Vega has agreed to stay on with the theatre as a consultant/advisor during a transition period this season to provide guidance and continuity for her replacement.
Executive Director Andrew Edwards and Board President Don Irving announced that Lakewood’s current Education Coordinator, Steve Knox, will succeed Ms. Vega as Executive Producer. He will serve during the current season as co-Producer with Ms. Vega. When the transition is completed Ms. Vega will take on the title Producer Emeritus for Lakewood. In this new role she will be an advisor and consultant on various projects to help the theatre with its programs, fundraising, and long-range planning.
“Lakewood is growing by leaps and bounds,” said Ms Vega. “This fall we are opening a new artist training facility building that is located next to Lakewood’s main building. It will address our growing rehearsal and education space needs and will transform Lakewood into a campus dedicated to the arts.” She further noted, “We have a talented and dedicated staff, a committed Board of Directors, and appreciative audiences. These factors allow me to transition my duties at Lakewood with confidence that we will continue to provide great opportunities for artists in our region. It has been an honor and privilege to serve as Executive Producer for these many years and I look forward to working this season with Steve Knox, whom I have known for many years as a talented actor, director and advocate for Lakewood programs. I am pleased to help Lakewood in this transition period as it continues its mission to inspire and nurture a love of theatre and the arts.”
Executive Director Andrew Edwards commented, “Lakewood cannot begin to express its deep gratitude for the work Kay has done to help build Lakewood’s presence in the arts community. We are especially fortunate and grateful for her continued leadership during this season to provide the continuity our artists will appreciate. Plans are underway to celebrate Kay’s new status with a special event in the spring. Details are to be announced at a later date.”
About Kay Vega
Ms. Vega trained at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, as a student of Richard Purvis, noted organist, Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, CA. She has a B.S. degree in Communications, Marylhurst College, 1997.
With more than 40 years experience as a teacher of piano and organ, she has extensive credits as a professional musician, symphonic choir vocalist and actress. She has done program planning and development for The League of Women Voters and the Girl Scouts of America. She also has served on the board of directors for The School of Opera & Related Arts. For Lakewood Center for the Arts and Lakewood Theatre Company she has been on staff since 1981 as Executive Producer and Education Coordinator. Prior to her joining staff, she worked with the company starting in 1970 as a volunteer. In that capacity she worked as play selection chairperson, production coordinator, producer and two terms as president of the board of directors.
About Steve Knox
Knox has spent most of his professional career working in the arts in Oregon, New York and Hawaii. He graduated from Lewis and Clark College and joined the staff of St. Mary’s Academy as a drama instructor and director. He produced and directed numerous plays and musicals that included The Music Man starring Donald O’Connor, How to Succeed in Business, starring Gale Gordon.
Knox directed many productions at Lakewood Theatre and served as a board member in the 1970s. He was the founder/director/writer/actor for The Lilliput Players children’s theatre troupe performing at Lakewood and throughout the Northwest in the early 70s.
He moved to New York and stage managed Broadway and summer stock productions that included Stephen Sondheim/Hal Prince’s “Merrily We Roll Along”, “A Little Family Business” with Angela Lansbury, “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” with Edie Adams, and “Subject Was Roses” with Shawn Cassidy.
Prior to moving back to Oregon in 2007, Knox was Executive Director of Ballet Hawaii where he presented internationally recognized dance companies and stars including Mikhail Baryshnikov & Company, Paul Taylor Dance Group, Stars of San Francisco Ballet, Pilobolus and Mark Morris Dance Company.
He joined the staff of Lakewood Theatre as education coordinator and production assistant in 2011. He has directed several productions a LTC, coordinated Lakewood’s Fertile Ground series of original plays for the past three years and has directed the musicals at Clackamas High School for the past 7 years.