Behind the scenes with director Steve Knox
LO’s native son, Steve Knox, followed his heart back to the Lakewood
By Barb Randall
The Lake Oswego Review, Feb 4, 2011
Lakewood Theatre director Steve Knox grew up in Lake Oswego, graduated from Lewis and Clark and then headed to the bright lights of New York City. From there, the tropical breezes lured him to the Hawaiian Islands, where he was executive director for over 20 years of Ballet Hawaii.And what brought him back to Lake Oswego?
Love.
“I moved for love. We’ve stayed in touch for 35 years,” Knox said of his wife, the former Lisa Olsen of Lake Oswego. “We reconnected about three or four years ago and decided to get married. She couldn’t move to Hawaii so I moved here.”
Knox is delighted to be involved with Lakewood Theatre again.
His career includes drama instruction and directing at St. Mary’s Academy, where he produced major musicals as the premier school fundraising event.
He has also directed productions at Lakewood Theatre and served as a board member for its predecessor Lake Oswego Community Theatre. He was the founder, director, writer, actor for The Lilliput Players children’s theatre troupe performing at LOCT and throughout the Northwest.
During his three years in New York, Knox stage managed Broadway and Summer Stock productions of works such as 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 “The Subject Was Roses” with Shawn Cassidy.
What is he most excited about now that he is back in Lake Oswego and directing productions at Lakewood Theatre Company? “Oh, Coward!” is one thing. It is being presented at the Side Door Stage Feb. 11, 12, 18 and 19 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20. (Click here to order).
“The Lost Treasures Collection is really exciting, too,” he said. “These are little known plays with music – I wouldn’t really call them musicals – that are really good material.”
The Lost Treasures Collection is a new series of obscure and rarely performed musicals presented in concert/cabaret version on the Side Door Stage. No sets, no props, just some of Portland’s foremost performers presenting some of the most beautiful, comedic and witty songs of musical theatre.
Tickets are available for “Oh, Coward!” and “Greenwillow,” next in the series, which runs April 22 and 23, online, click here.
Copyright 2011 Pamplin Media Group, 6605 S.E. Lake Road, Portland, OR 97222 • 503-226-6397. Photo by VERN UYETAKE / Lake Oswego Review. Click here to see this article online at the Lake Oswego Review.
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