Ed Sayles, Producing Director

Ed arrived in the fall of 1980 to take charge of a little theater that performed for about 9,000 each summer and an innovative but small Youth Theatre which consisted of six actors and performed for about 10,000 students in seven school districts. Under Ed's leadership the MGR has risen to a prominent position among the nation's regional theatres. This summer attendance at the Playhouse will be more than 60,000 and the current Youth Theatre Company is composed of 12 actors who perform for over 125,000 students in 70 districts. The budget has grown from $180,000 to almost $4 million. This past March Ed took on additional responsibilities when he accepted the position of Producing Artistic Director of the Musical Theatre Festival, Inc. This new organization will be working with MGR to create a summer long musical theatre festival which will operate four additional theatres and entertain more than 160,000 each summer. It is an idea he has been working on for the past three years and Ed is very happy to see this newest dream taking shape. Past directing favorites include: Crazy for You, Camelot, 1776, Oklahoma! and Big River. His career accomplishments have put him in Who's Who in America and Who's Who in American Theatre. Ed gives credit for this success to the support of the Board of Directors and the tremendous talent, determination and irrational optimism of those who have served on the Artistic, Technical and Administrative staffs, not to mention the patience and support of his wife Kiki and three children Austin, Celeste and Sarah.