When Michael Grayman worked the footlights in Broadway as an assistant director on such productions as the revival of "Translations," he had a dream. As Andrew Parkhurst worked on his steps as the assistant choreographer for the Broadway production of "Curtains," he shared that dream. The two directed and performed on numerous productions from Broadway national tours to regional theaters, but for years they both came back to the idea of starting their own theater company.
After they considered several different locations to start their new venture, Parkhurst’s home town of Kansas City became the logical choice.
The seeds were planted, and Spinning Tree Theatre was born. Taking root last April with their inaugural production, "Make Me a Song: The Music of William Finn," they are now readying their second show.
"We have been welcomed with open arms" said Grayman, who is Jewish and serves as artistic director. "The community here has been so supportive, better than we could have asked for."
"It’s a huge responsibility to start a theater," said Parkhurst, the theater’s managing director. "There are actors who are relying on you, and other artists. You in some ways represent the community. So when people say to us ‘You are doing it the right way,’ it is very gratifying."
According to the pair of New York theater veterans, the theater community in Kansas City is alive and growing.
"It’s a good thing Kansas City has going here," Parkhurst said. "When I told New York friends that we were starting a company in Kansas City, they said ‘Good. That’s nice that you are bringing theater there.’ What they didn’t know was how much theater is here already. I like to say that the theater community in Kansas City is a well-kept secret."
According to Parkhurst, Kansas City has 12 to 13 theater companies that hire Equity actors. He says that is far more than in similar cities like Cincinnati and St. Louis which have around two, and comparable to Chicago.
"The theater community here is thriving, and we just want to add to that," Grayman said. "To be a small part of that is great."
Grayman grew up in a small Jewish community in Cincinnati. He feels that this upbringing fueled his love of the fine arts.
"Growing up in a Jewish community, we were open to creativity," he said. "Culturally, I think we were in tune with the arts."
Though he said he always wanted to go into theater, these feelings where nurtured at a young age.
"When our rabbi spoke, which I think is true of a lot of rabbis, he was like an artist," Grayman said. "He had a great style, and a sense of showmanship. The Jewish heritage that we were a part of really fed into my creative nature."
Grayman said they are currently excited to work with the local Jewish community, teaching an audition seminar for the Jewish Community Center. They were also judges for the semi-finals in the Jewish Community Center’s KC SuperStar competition.
"We have worked with so many incredibly talented people and learned so much, it has been a pleasure passing some of that on," Grayman said.
Another pleasure has been the multiple kinds of theater in the area. Parkhurst said that New York puts such a heavy emphasis on commercial theater, that more personal experiences are sometimes overlooked.
"Kansas City is such a great place for farce, but it is also a place where people look to get deep theater experiences," Parkhurst said. "To come and get something deep out of their theater experience. And our new show does just that."
Grayman and Parkhurst believe that Spinning Tree Theatre’s new production, "The Year of Magical Thinking," fits that description perfectly. The play is based on the memoirs of Joan Didion and stars Peggy Friesen. The show runs from Oct. 12 to 23 at The Living Room Theatre at 1818 McGee in Kansas City, Mo.
"The show has such universal themes, everyone can get something out of it," Grayman said.
Parkhurst believes Kansas City theater, with the opening of the new Kauffman center and other developments, is on the verge of garnering more exposure nationally, and the Spinning Tree Theatre looks to be a part of that.
"Here in Kansas City it all seems possible," Parkhurst said. "That really rings true here. We feel like we can accomplish what we want to do."
Grayman agrees.
"We have scheduled two shows a year, and already we feel like that is not enough," he said. "We are looking at adding a third show. We have found that the support is there to make it happen."