Randy Strawderman has directed and produced theatre on the local and national stage. He co-wrote and directed Red Hot & Cole, which premiered at Barksdale Theatre in Richmond before receiving an Equity Workshop Production off Broadway and a first class production at the Variety Arts Theater in Los Angeles. RH&C is currently licensed by Music Theatre International and produced world-wide.
He has directed national tours of Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and A Child’s Christmas in Wales. As co-founder and Artistic Director of the former Studio Theatre of Richmond, Randy launched Young Writers for the Theatre, Virginia’s first state wide new play festival for middle and high school students. Now New Voices, the festival will celebrate its’ 20th anniversary in the spring of 09 at SPARC, The School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community.
As Founding Artistic Director of The Colonel Read Foundation for Courage in the Arts, Randy wrote & directed “RED BADGE of Courage” a new Epic American musical dapted from Stephen Crane’s novel, with music & lyrics by Carlos Chafin & Robbin Thompson. Co-produced by Virginia Military Institute, Red Badge premiered at the Lenfest Center for the Performing Arts in Lexington, VA.
While Artistic Director of Barksdale (1998-2001) Randy directed the American premiere of Alex Finlayson’s Misfits; producedErnie McClintock’s production of John Henry Redwood’s The Old Settler at the National Black Theatre Festival; and wrote & directed “Ella & Her Fella, Frank,” a concert made in heaven.
Randy teaches and directs for the Governor’s School for the Arts in Norfolk, VA and is currently writing his own one-man show.