Lamplighters Music Theatre is pleased to announce a change in leadership, with two Lamplighters’ favorites bringing their expertise to newly restructured company roles. M. Jane Erwin will serve as the newly appointed Artistic Director, and Brett Strader will take on the newly created dual role of Resident Music Director and LMT Multimedia Director.
From the beginning of the Pandemic in March of 2020, the role of Artistic Director was held as an interim position by Executive Director Cheryl Blalock. Having expanded the company’s brand and offerings to incorporate both monthly online streaming and live productions, the time is right to add to the team. With legendary Lamplighters RMD Baker Peeples ready to pass the baton, LMT is thrilled to move into a new era under a unified leadership team. Each new hire brings a dazzling skillset uniquely matched to the needs of Lamplighters Music Theatre and its digital counterpart, LMT Multimedia.
Artistic Director M. Jane Erwin is a beloved singer, director, teacher, and educator. Having started as a singer with Lamplighters in 1983, Jane brings tremendous depth of knowledge of Gilbert and Sullivan to the role, as well as keen insights into teaching and the psyche of younger performers, due to her experience as a teacher at Sonoma State University, SF Conservatory of Music, and American Conservatory Theatre. Combining her experience with a Masters Degree in Integrative Health Studies with Sound Healing Focus from The California Institute of Integral Studies, Jane brings a unique, holistic perspective to the art of storytelling. Lamplighters Music Theatre wishes to bring on M. Jane Erwin as Artistic Director to continue our long tradition of being the premier producer of the works of Gilbert & Sullivan, as well as other compositions of comparable wit, eloquence, and musicality. The Artistic Director reports to the Executive Director, and will oversee the company’s artists, vision, and artistic direction in collaboration with the Executive Director and Resident Music Director/ LMT Multimedia Director.
Resident Music Director and LMT Multimedia Director Brett Strader is a busy conductor, composer, and music director, currently serving as Executive Director for Music In Place and Artistic Director for Sing for America. Holding a Bachelor’s of Music and Piano Performance and a Master’s of Music in Conducting, Brett has conducted operas, operettas, oratorios, and musicals. He brings strong artistic programming skills and extensive knowledge of musical styles, and a reputation as a “singers’ conductor”. The Resident Music Director/ LMT Multimedia Director reports to the Executive Director, and will oversee the Lamplighters Orchestra and musical integrity for all stage productions, audio/video creators and editors for simulcasts, online content creation, and archival streaming. The RMD will collaborate musically with the Artistic Director and Executive Director and work closely with the staff.
As Lamplighters continues to expand the operetta repertoire with new commissions, both the AD and the RMD will be intricately involved in identifying and developing new works. Lamplighters is thrilled to have Mr. Strader and Ms. Erwin take on their new roles in August, 2023.
LMT Multimedia Director