Staff Spotlight

Every couple of months we will be throwing a spotlight on the people who really make everything come together for the company. Here is our first Staff Spotlight on some amazing people you may not see on the stage, but are vital in making sure you as an audience recieve a first rate production.

ERIC THOMPSON, Master Electrician

As the Master Electrician for Theatre IV and Barksdale Theatre, Eric is responsible for all electronics used during performances. That means maintaining and repairing equipment, and overseeing the preparation, hanging and connection of stage lighting fixtures.

One of the most interesting things about Eric is his background as an opera singer. His favorite opera that he performed in was Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi. His dream opera is Le Villi by Puccini. We asked Eric how an opera singer ends up as a Master Electrician; his response- "It pays the bills." Hopefully we’ll see Eric onstage again soon, singing his lungs out.

Eric has been happily married for 14 years and has three beautiful children. As a final note, Eric says, "If you happen to be in the Newport News area check out Mitty’s Ristorante for a romantic and delicious night out."

JEANIE RULE, Arts in Education Manager for Theatre IV

Jeanie is best known to Richmond theatre audiences as "Jeanette," the hilarious and feisty piano player in Barksdale Theatre’s production of The Full Monty.

As Arts in Education Manager, Jeanie annually markets and schedules over 900 Theatre IV performances for school assemblies throughout the state serving 300,000 students in grades K - 12. Of all the wonderful programs Jeanie books, she is proudest of administering Theatre IV’s community outreach program, Hugs and Kisses. Hugs and Kisses, co-produced with the Virginia Department of Social Services and Prevent Child Abuse Virginia, is the Commonwealth’s principal good touch, bad touch, and secret touch education program. This program has been seen by over 1,200,000 children and is proven to teach prevention resources and techniques to elementary school children at all grade levels. Over 10,000 elementary school children have been helped immediately after the performances.

During the 2007 – 2008 Season, Hugs and Kisses will celebrate its 25th year of helping Virginia’s children stay safe from child sexual abuse.

Jeanie began her professional career as a singer, traveling the world with the USO. She headlined in hotels and resorts throughout the Pocono and Catskill Mountains and cabarets in NYC.

Jeanie has a BFA in Drama from Ithaca College and an MFA in Acting from Virginia Commonwealth University.

*Information gathered by Catherine Dudley.