Hair - Cyberbil - Pacific Musical Theatre Production Team Biographies

Pacific Musical Theatre

Pacific Musical Theatre is the resident professional theatre of the California State University, Fullerton. Under the Guidance of Dr. Dean Hess, the Department of Theatre and Dance created a Musical Theatre program dedicated to giving aspiring young singers and dancers a truly professional training program. Dean enticed noted Broadway performer and choreographer, Lara Teeter to join the department and together they created a pilot program for a BFA in Musical Theatre, the only such program west of the Mississippi.
Over the years PMT has played several venues in Southern California. In the early years the company was known as "Cabaret Theatre," but as the Musical Theatre program began focusing on a more "professional" approach, the benefits of a full scale commercial production became increasingly important. PMT was created as an adjunct to the Theatre and Dance Department at CSUF to provide an opportunity for a "truly outstanding" production to be enjoyed by a broader audience.
PMT is tremendously proud to be associated with Michael Butler and for the opportunity to share its production of HAIR with the city of Chicago.

California State University, Fullerton

The fundamental goal of the Department is the humanistic education and aesthetic training of students in both theory and craft. To this end, the department engages in the rigorous recruitment of top notch faculty, challenging classroom and production experiences, and community service and outreach activities that have been hailed by professional adjudicators, government officials, corporate granting agencies, media, alumni, and the students themselves.
In a recent review of the department the evaluator wrote, "THERE IS LITTLE QUESTION THAT THE CSU FULLERTON THEATRE DEPARTMENT HAD ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND RESPECTED TRAINING PROGRAMS ON THE WEST COAST." The goals and aspirations of the department are clearly delineated, and the philosophy statement inspirational. The department clearly establishes itself as committed to professional training standards on both the undergraduate and the graduate levels, and consistently substantiates these aims through curriculum, faculty credentials, and proven production accomplishments.

Dan Kern, Director

Dan Kern, has received numerous awards for his directing at such note worthy theaters as the Mark Taper Forum, South Coast Rep, A Noise Within, the Antaeus Company, The West Coast Ensemble, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. As an actor he's appeared at the Mark Taper Forum (Zhorzh in The Wood Demon), South Coast Rep (Salieri in Amadeaus), the American Conservatory Theatre Leontes in A Winter's Tale). Mr. Kern is also a full-time member of the acting/directing Faculty at California State University, Fullerton. Recent film and television appearances include, Star Trek: Voyagers & The Next Generation, Picket Fences, Melrose Place, Phoenix, L.A. Law, and others.

Lara Teeter, Choreographer

Lara has performed, directed and choreographed in theatres and opera houses nation wide. On Broadway, he has been featured in "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," "Happy New Year," "Pirates of Penzance," "7 Brides for 7 Brothers," and "On Your Toes" for which he received a Tony Award nomination and the Outer Critics Circle Award for his portrayal of 'Junior Dolan,' the off-beat dancing professor, originally portrayed by Ray Bolger in 1936. He has also performed at New York City Opera at Lincoln Center portraying 'Silas Slick' in "Naughty Marietta" and most recently, 'Herman' in "The Most Happy Fella."
Other roles include 'Will Parker' in the Los Angeles Opera Company's production of "Oklahoma!," 'Steven Kodaly' in the Santa Barbara Theatre Festival's production of "She Loves Me," 'Scarecrow' in the St. Louis Muny Opera's production of "The Wizard of Oz," and 'Jamie Lockhart' in the Alliance Theatre's production of "The Robber Bridegroom."
Lara's directing credits include "Pirates of Penzanze" starring JoAnne Worley for San Bernadino Civic Light Opera, San Bernadino, CA, and Michigan Opera Theatre in Detroit, MI, starring Gary Sandy. Other directing credits include 'The Mikado' for Dayton Opera, Dayton, OH, "My Fair Lady" for Opera Pacific, Costa Mesa, CA, and "Starting Here, Starting Now" for The New Wharf Theatre, Monteray, CA. Lara has also directed numerous awards ceremonies.
In October 1992, in association with the Gershwin Trusts and the Library of Congress, Lara was chosen to recreate one of Fred Astaire's first starring roles on Broadway in a recording of "Lady Be Good" released by Elektra Nonesuch Records.
Lara is currently an associate professor with the theatre and dance department at California State University, Fullerton, and has received three Dramalogue Awards for directing and performing in the Los Angeles area where he lives with his beautiful and talented wife, Maria Wimmer,and their two Boston Terriers, one rottweiler, three kittens, and a bird named Pickering.

Robert Nafarrete, Musical Director

Robert, a Libra, began with classical training on the piano at 14 years of age. The Gemini rising drew him to jazz and, in the end, the sign of the scales balanced with a degree (with honors, Dad) in Comercial Composition and Arranging from Cal Sate, Fullerton. His numerous musical theatre credits find their awakening under the guidance, support, and friendship of Dr. Dean Hess to whom Bobby is totally-way-grateful. Thanks to Esther for being the center of the Universe (and for writing this bio).

Production Team Biographies continued . . .