Stages artistic director will be honored with Kim Hupp award
Kenn McLaughlin, the artistic director of Stages Repertory Theatre, will be honored with Bayou City Concert Musicals’ 2016 Kim Hupp Award at a concert of songs from Broadway revivals the group has performed in the past 10 years.
The Kim Hupp Award is in memory of the late Kim Hupp, who was BCCM’s first musical director.
The fundraiser also will toast BCCM’s tenth anniversary at the event at 7:30 p.m., March 19 at the University of St. Thomas.
“The Hupp Award is presented annually to an individual who has made significant contributions to musical theater in Houston,” said Sharon Williams, the president of Bayou City Concert Musicals.
“I’m blown away,” said McLaughlin, a Montrose resident who is artistic director of Stages Repertory Theatre.
“When Sharon called, I became very emotional. I was speechless.”
Each September, BCCM performs an unabridged concert staging of an under-performed musical, with proceeds going to small Houston charities.
McLaughlin has shown a calling for programming rarely seen musicals at Stages, most notably treat- ing Houston audiences to productions of Stephen Sondheim’s troubled “Road Show” in 2013 and Jerry Herman and Michael Stewart’s “Mack and Mabel” last year, a show whose score is beloved by Broadway aficionados, but few have seen a production of it.
Growing up in Cleveland, McLaughlin said, he
was a “quiet kid” who enjoyed reading books.
Following high school, he spent about five years as a shoe salesman, so it wasn’t until 1990 that he received his bachelor of fine arts in acting at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois.
At the Great Lakes Theater Festival, McLaughlin met his mentor, Bill Rudman.
“Bill opened a passion in me for musical storytell- ing,” said McLaughlin.
“I hadbeen a snob about it all —‘why do they sing?’ and all that nonsense. Now, when I direct a drama I think — ‘why aren’t they singing right now?’ — this is where the song goes; This is the emotional core of this scene.’
“Directing musicals has made me a stronger artist on every level and I love them so verymuch.”
Williams said when she told McLaughlin he would be this year’s honoree, he reacted with customary graciousness by allotting a portion of the honor to Stages artistic associate Mitchell Greco, whom he has taken under his wing since Greco was one of McLaughlin’s students in a theater class at Sam Houston State University.
“When he graduated, I brought him into Stages and have worked very closely with him as he develops as an artist,” said McLaughlin.
“As he finds the soul of his work, it is incredibly gratifying to help nurture his talent.
“I believe Mitchell is one of the most talented directors in Houston today.”
“BCCM certainly agrees,” said Williams, as “Mitchell has been a part of BCCM since he was in college and has co-directed our last four concert musicals.”
The concert will feature songs from BCCM musicals, including “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” “New Girl in Town,” “One Touch of Venus,” “The Pajama Game,” “Bells Are Ringing,” “Finian’s Rainbow” and “On the Town.”
For more information, go to www.bayoucityconcertmusicals.org.