I began my theatre career, like many things in life, by accident. While in college, I was asked by a desperate friend to help with the tech of the college musical ( Finnian's Rainbow ) – little did I know where this would lead me.
I met Jerry Rabushka in 1996. I think we were like Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney in those old musicals – "Let's put on a show!" We began humbly with an embarrassingly bad video called Fortunes by Fatima , but we were proud of it. After another short video, we hit the stage in the summer of 1997 with Gaywatch . I was actually onstage for this one with a sequin cap and a feather boa, no less. Things began to roll from there. But, in 1998 a bit a fortuitous casting changed the course of Ragged Blade.
We were doing a benefit for St. John's Episcopal Church in South City. One of the cast members was Rev. Wally Sherburn of St. John's Methodist Church (confusing isn't it?).
Wally offered us the opportunity to move to his church and take over an old empty gymnasium as a permanent home. This proved to be beginnings of The Theatre at St. John's – long before our fellow resident companies were even in existence.
A few shows followed in the drafty space that was too hot in the summer, too cold in the winter, and had too little power to run lighting at full capacity. Each show seemed to get better. Better production values, better sets, better lights, better reviews. Then in 2001, we got company. The Off Center Theatre Company and The NEW City Players of St. Louis (later City Theatre and now Hot City Theatre) joined us at St. John's and together we formed The Theatre at St. John's . (Muddy Waters joined us in 2004 when City Theatre merged with Hot House and became only a part time resident.)
Well, so far this has been more a history of Ragged Blade than it has been a page about me, but I felt it necessary to explain how we came to be. I have been involved in every production of Ragged Blade. I serve as producer for all productions and typically take on a major role in set design and construction, costumes, lighting design and operation and all the small things that have to get done to make each show run smoothly.
As Managing Director of the company, I take care of all theatre operations (tickets, concessions, budgets, etc). I have also been seen onstage in Gaywatch , Tennessee TV , Recipe for Murder, Rula Lenska .com and most recently Tattoos. Since Fall 2001, I have taken on numerous tasks with Off Center – House Manager, Technical Director, Stage Manager.
I like to pride myself on coming up with innovative solutions to producing on a small stage built in the 1920's as well as being able to work within a limited budget for each show. I am particularly proud of the nightclub set for Demonic Heights , the restaurant set for Cowboy Logic, the revolving gazebo for West Carolina Tobacco, the pharaoh's palace in Helen and the lighting effects in both Prometheus Bound and Angel Project .
In 2003, we brought in permanent help by doubling our Artistic Staff with the additions of Melissa Byers and Rob Shipman. This has given us the resources to challenge and stretch our abilities more and more with each new show and each new season.
As we enter our 10 th season, I still anxiously await each new production. My role has changed to some degree. I now design logos and work on some aspects of each show over a year in advance – I've been working on the logo designs and budgets for 2005 - 2006 season, as well as figuring out how to paint graffiti live in each performance of Brushup Ten for this coming November. But, the things that I love most (lighting and design), I've never lost contact with.
I jokingly tell everyone that Jerry is Ragged and I'm the Blade . But, it has truly been a team effort that has gotten this far. With each passing show and season, we become stronger. While others may claim to be "innovative", "risqué" or "cutting edge", we truly continue to offer original theatre to the St. Louis community. So take the short drive into the Central West End, walk up to the third floor and see what all the buzz has been about.
