Brees, who has been the Soldiers’ Theatre director since 2008, participated in that event with ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,’ the first big musical he worked on after arriving in Vicenza.
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VICENZA, Italy – Last week, while sitting in the audience to attend the last production’s rehearsals of “Radium Girls,” past memories flood Jerry Brees’ mind.
Brees, who has been the Soldiers’ Theatre director since 2008, is retiring after being involved in more than 100 theatre productions including musicals; special events; concerts; improv shows; workshops; classes; exhibits and dance projects.
Brees, who has been the Soldiers’ Theatre director since 2008, is retiring after being involved in more than 100 theatre productions including musicals, special events; concerts; improv shows; workshops; classes; exhibits and dance projects. VIEW ORIGINAL
“Bringing quality music and theater to military communities has been my passion for over 40 years,” he said. “Soldiers’ Theatre has brought such joy and fulfillment to my life.”
“However, it’s the people, the volunteers, the families, the Soldiers, that always motivated me. Their excitement, talent, and dedication to Soldiers’ Theatre and the community is an inspiration. It’s the people that I have worked with or created with or shared experiences with, that I will treasure the most,” Brees said.
The most difficult part is to narrow down a list of favorites, he added.
“Every show has wonderful memories and people that make them an important part of Soldiers’ Theatre’s history,” Brees said.
Over the years, though, a few of them made an indelible impression on him for various reasons.
He recalled ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,’ the first big musical he worked on here with his wife, JoAnne; ‘The Wiz’ that was so exciting and had an outstanding cast and creative team; ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ a beautiful production with a cast of 50 youth from the community; ‘Sister Act,’ a spectacle of music, color and fun, while ‘Working’ [a 2024 production] was a deeply moving, intricate and relevant musical.
He also mentioned that one of the shows, “The Addams Family,” happened on the cusp of COVID-19.
“We had to delay, re-rehearse, and finally were able to perform with specially designed masks,” Brees said.
Every show brought something to him, because he learned and experienced so much from every volunteer that he worked with. One of them, Mike Leahy, has taken part in several productions in the past years. He met Brees just after his arrival but started performing in the 2011 Holiday show followed by many musicals and productions including the current play “Radium Girls.”
“I guess I’ll miss Jerry busting my chops, sometimes pulling my leg, but mostly his pushing me to be more than I thought I could be. Giving tough roles that I didn't think I was right for, but turned out he was right,” said Leahy.
He added that Soldiers’ Theatre gave him the opportunity to meet new people.
“It’s provided me with a way to express my artistic talents and being part of a loving thespian family,” he continued.
Another volunteer of the Soldiers’ Theatre family, Pat Wilson, left Vicenza a few years ago.
She still recalls the hours spent volunteering in the theater, being involved in several roles from acting, working the box office or being stage manager.
Wilson said that the only way to describe Brees is to say, “he is Soldiers' Theatre personified. He gives 100 percent all the time, you can’t give more. But Jerry can.”
She added that all volunteers benefit from Brees’ expertise whether they were acting, or building sets, or making costumes, or working the box office or the bar.
“He nurtures young performers and those who have never known the joy of being on stage,” Wilson said.
Current production at Soldiers’ Theatre “Radium Girls” competes in TOPPERs 2025
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Lately, Brees has been assisting the transition team of volunteers putting together a program of theatre and music events.
“I’m very excited with our current production, I’m so proud of both our creative team and our actors; it’s very gratifying to see our volunteers flourish with creativity and plans for the next several months,” he said.
Among these volunteers, several include the production crew of “Radium Girls,” which marks the debut of Julia Lightfoot and Celyna Chichester, respectively as director and assistant director.
“It is a joy to be able to do it, and to keep the program running,” explained Lightfoot, whose first experience at the Soldiers’ Theatre goes back to acting in the show “Clue” in 2022.
Some of the memories she will keep will be Brees’ dedication to the community and his working tirelessly to have everything in place at each and every event.
“Jerry brings out the best in everybody around him and inspires everyone to work so hard,” she said.
Chichester echoed Lightfoot and added she had been fortunate gaining a lot of experience in a short period.
“I am really sad that he is leaving, but I will be taking away his joy that he has brought every single day.”
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