DIRECTOR'S BIO
Susan earned her BA in theatre at SUNY Geneseo (New York).
Concurrent with earning her degree, she taught costume design
classes during her senior year and was hired as the resident costume director upon the resignation of a faculty member. She attended
seminar classes in London, England. Following graduation, she taught theater at Niagara Community College. While there she developed a
Summer Repertory Program and produced and directed 4 show for
each of the two summer seasons. She was responsible for
programming and budgeting for the theater department.
After two years as an educator, she returned to school and did her MFA work at Southern Illinois University. The emphasis in this degree was directing and playwriting. While there she also worked at Shryock Auditorium, which facility hosted touring shows for the campus and community. Her responsibilities included public relations and marketing.
Susan moved to San Francisco where she worked for the Oakland Symphony and other performing arts organizations in both marketing and public relations. Some of the clients included American Ballet Theatre and San Francisco Chamber Soloists. Susan also worked for Bay City News Service as their leading drama/opera critic. She worked on the presentation of Robert Shaw’s “Festival of Masses,” at St. Mary’s Cathedral and won Honorable Mention in the Mortimer Fleishhacker Playwriting Competition.
After moving to Southern Oregon, she directed Lost in Yonkers and designed costumes for Pump Boys and Dinettes at the Camelot Theatre. Susan directed Blithe Spirit, Madwoman of Chaillot and Chicago at the Randall Theatre; Brian Friel’s Lovers at ACT and Snow Queen and How the Other Half Loves at CTP. Susan is a founding member of CTP.
DIRECTOR'S NOTES
Jacques Brel (8 April 1929 – 9 October 1978)
While Jacques Brel is no longer alive, well or living in Paris, the singer/songwriter’s legendary vision of romance, humor and moral conviction endure. Each song in this contemporary musical revue tells a story and examines themes of love, war, being young and growing old…but never forgetting that life, with all its tragedies and complexities, is filled with humor. Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris is a powerful and bold theatrical experience that was an overwhelming success in its original off-Broadway production in 1968. Brel’s songs are as relevant today as they were when they were written. To convey Brel’s intent, we have simply set the piece in a local French café where people interact with one another, or move apart from the group as the individual song dictates.
The title of the piece is derived from Brel’s own history. Beginning in his late teens, Brel not only wrote and sang his own music, but toured throughout Europe and was an extremely popular entertainer. Throughout the 1950’s and ‘60’s, he was not only touring, but began recording his music.
In 1960 Brel earned a US release on Columbia Records and in February 1963, he made his American debut at Carnegie Hall. Among his many talents, he also starred (and wrote the French translations) in Man of La Mancha which opened in Brussels in 1968.
It was his decision to stop touring which prompted the creation of Jacques Brel is alive and well and living in Paris. Songwriter Mort Shuman and playwright Eric Blau translated Brel’s lyrics and which conveyed in English the pathos and wit of his story-songs and the effect was overwhelming. The review played nearly 2,000 performances, becoming one of the longest off-Broadway runs in history. Subsequent revivals, in 1972 and 1981 were extremely popular. The most recent revival was in 2006.
Brel died in 1978 at the very early age of 49. His European reputation as one of the major singers and songwriters of the 20th century is secure. In the English-speaking world, his influence is limited by the language barrier but his lyrics, delving into personal, dark and adult subjects are in keeping with the trend toward frankness and seriousness of popular songwriting. Performers who have recorded Brel’s songs include an amazingly broad selection of rock, pop, jazz and country artists, including Glen Campbell, John Denver, Cyndi Lauper, Olivia Newton-John, Dion and Celine Dion.
