Currently directing Westminster's new Gaslight Theatre Company's upcoming production of Curious Savage, Edward Levi Schoenradt, Ed to those who know him, began his foray into the world of theater over twenty years ago. "My wife left me and I was depressed I didn't know what to do with myself," Schoenradt said. On a whim, he auditioned for a role in West Side Story. Schoenradt stated, "I got cast in a speaking part role right off and just kept acting. I credit acting with saving my life, actually."

His life boat is filled with acting experience in Virginia, Michigan and Colorado, as well as roles in independent films. Of these experiences, Schoenradt touts his roles as Reverend Hale in Michigan's Dowagiac Players' The Crucible and Ray Bud in Lafayette Community Players' production of Dearly Departed as his two favorites. His turn as Ray Bud earned Schoenradt a Best Actor award on June 16, 2007, when Longmont Theatre held its Theatrical Arts Recognition Awards ceremony, known as the TARAs. Of his part in The Crucible, he said, "One of my best theatre moments was being on stage and feeling the audience being moved by one of my scenes. Afterwards, an elderly lady came backstage and told me I made her cry. It was very touching."

Schoenradt lists directing experience on his resume as well, having headed productions of Diviners and Frankenstein Experiments for Lafayette's company as well as Much Ado About Nothing for Longmont's Taste of Shakespeare.

This writer, a cast member of Curious Savage, notices in Ed Schoenradt a unique style of direction that allows actors to move when motivated to do so rather than conform to stilted, pre-blocked movement. I like the freedom to develop my character without major interruptions, and I appreciate the fact that any character modifications Ed makes are done so as privately as possible not in front of the entire cast. Ed moves among us actors and speaks quietly to us with his suggestions rather than stopping rehearsal to address his ideas for one character.

I can also see his film background in play (Schoenradt studied film acting with Dick Terry ) as we work in beats and not entire acts or scenes. It feels like I am on a film set at times, at least from what I have read about the film acting process, as we need to be "in the moment" wherever we are in the script unlike the linear scene by scene rehearsals I am used to. It is both challenging and exciting.

Schoenradt looks forward to Gaslight's next production, God's Favorite, in which he will portray a modern-day devil, Sidney Lipton. "I'm excited to see the Gaslight Theatre Company grow and evolve, like we hope it will, into a theatre where people will want to act as well as see the shows. We are fortunate to have found some great people to start off with."

And Ed Schoenradt is one of the greatest.

For more information about Gaslight Theatre Company, go to their website www.gaslighttheatrecompany.com