Derek Matthew Hamblin~ Artistic Director/Owner
Derek serves as Founder/Owner and Artistic Director for Dance4Grandma Theatricals. He received his B.A. in Vocal Performance from Berea College in Berea, KY and completed his studies for a Master's in Music(Music Theatre/Opera Performance) at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL. While attending Berea College, Derek served as the student conductor for the Wind/Concert Ensemble, Featured Jazz Soloist(Sax) in the Jazz Ensemble, and was the Desktop Publishing Technician for the music department(FINALE).
After completing his studies at SIUC, Derek has stayed in the Southern Illinois area working in the performing arts. He is currently the Director of Music at First Christian Church of Carbondale, and is the Administrative Assistant for the Marion Cultural & Civic Center, where he manages all office and box office functions. He also currently has a private studio for music instruction.
Derek currently serves as a Director/Music Director/Conductor for Skyline Creek Production of Marion, IL.
Studies Abroad(Salzburg, Austria): Music History, Instrumental Performance & Arranging, Choral & Opera Performance.
Opera Credits: RUTH(World Premiere), Magic Flute(Tamino) & Don Pasquale(Ernesto)
Professional Credits: McCleod Summer Playbouse~ Hairspray(Edna), Big River(Pap),
Lincoln Amphitheater- South Pacific(Assistant Music/Dir-Ensemble), Fiddler On The Roof(Russian Soloist, Lazar Wolf-Sasha/US), Young Abe Lincoln(Ensemble)
Jenny Wiley Theatre- Joesph and the Technicolor Dream Coat(Asher/Assistant Mus Dir), The Taffatas(Cousin Ricky/Mus Dir/Show Pianist).
Orchestra/Pit Credits: Cinderella(Mus Dir/Conductor), Matilda(Conductor), Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat(Dir/Mus/Conductor), The Bodyguard(Dir/Mus Dir), James and the Giant Peach(Conductor), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory(Conductor), Aida(Keyboard/Conductor), All Shook Up(Reed III), Into the Woods(Keyboard II)
Wizard of Oz(Keyboard I), Hair(Conductor), Anything Goes(Conductor), Legally Blonde(Reed II), Beauty and the Beast (Trumpet),
Fiddler on the Roof (Reed III), You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown (Reed I), Guys & Dolls(Reeds), State Fair(Reed II)
Directing/Music Directing Credits: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Body Guard, CATS, Sweeny Todd:The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Jekyll & Hyde, Rocky Horror Show LIVE!, The Addams Family, Next To Normal, Anything Goes, Jesus Christ Superstar, Les Miserables, You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, The Taffetas, AIDA, RENT, CHICAGO, Legally Blonde, HAIR, Songs for a New World, A Chorus Line, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Wizard of OZ, Oliver, CATS, Steel Magnolias, Noises Off, Rumors.
Other Regional Theatre/Performance Credits: ROCK OF AGES(Dennis) , Beauty and the Beast(Beast), RENT( Tom Collins), Rocky Horror Show LIVE(Riff Raff), Les Miserables(Jean ValJean)Parade(Britt Craig), BatBoy(Mrs. Taylor/Rev. Hightower), CATS(Old Deuteronomy), Little Shop of Horrors(Mr. Mushnick) Anything Goes(Moonface), 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee(William Barfee), White Christmas(Bob Wallace), Tarzan( Porter)
~Click Here for Performance Pics of Derek~
After completing his studies at SIUC, Derek has stayed in the Southern Illinois area working in the performing arts. He is currently the Director of Music at First Christian Church of Carbondale, and is the Administrative Assistant for the Marion Cultural & Civic Center, where he manages all office and box office functions. He also currently has a private studio for music instruction.
Derek currently serves as a Director/Music Director/Conductor for Skyline Creek Production of Marion, IL.
Studies Abroad(Salzburg, Austria): Music History, Instrumental Performance & Arranging, Choral & Opera Performance.
Opera Credits: RUTH(World Premiere), Magic Flute(Tamino) & Don Pasquale(Ernesto)
Professional Credits: McCleod Summer Playbouse~ Hairspray(Edna), Big River(Pap),
Lincoln Amphitheater- South Pacific(Assistant Music/Dir-Ensemble), Fiddler On The Roof(Russian Soloist, Lazar Wolf-Sasha/US), Young Abe Lincoln(Ensemble)
Jenny Wiley Theatre- Joesph and the Technicolor Dream Coat(Asher/Assistant Mus Dir), The Taffatas(Cousin Ricky/Mus Dir/Show Pianist).
Orchestra/Pit Credits: Cinderella(Mus Dir/Conductor), Matilda(Conductor), Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat(Dir/Mus/Conductor), The Bodyguard(Dir/Mus Dir), James and the Giant Peach(Conductor), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory(Conductor), Aida(Keyboard/Conductor), All Shook Up(Reed III), Into the Woods(Keyboard II)
Wizard of Oz(Keyboard I), Hair(Conductor), Anything Goes(Conductor), Legally Blonde(Reed II), Beauty and the Beast (Trumpet),
Fiddler on the Roof (Reed III), You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown (Reed I), Guys & Dolls(Reeds), State Fair(Reed II)
Directing/Music Directing Credits: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Body Guard, CATS, Sweeny Todd:The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Jekyll & Hyde, Rocky Horror Show LIVE!, The Addams Family, Next To Normal, Anything Goes, Jesus Christ Superstar, Les Miserables, You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, The Taffetas, AIDA, RENT, CHICAGO, Legally Blonde, HAIR, Songs for a New World, A Chorus Line, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Wizard of OZ, Oliver, CATS, Steel Magnolias, Noises Off, Rumors.
Other Regional Theatre/Performance Credits: ROCK OF AGES(Dennis) , Beauty and the Beast(Beast), RENT( Tom Collins), Rocky Horror Show LIVE(Riff Raff), Les Miserables(Jean ValJean)Parade(Britt Craig), BatBoy(Mrs. Taylor/Rev. Hightower), CATS(Old Deuteronomy), Little Shop of Horrors(Mr. Mushnick) Anything Goes(Moonface), 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee(William Barfee), White Christmas(Bob Wallace), Tarzan( Porter)
~Click Here for Performance Pics of Derek~
Jeff Keasler-Bird~Stage Manager
Jeff has been involved in the Southern Illinois theatre community for the past four years, ever since he moved here from Indianapolis where he was also very involved in the arts. He has directed such shows as Jekyll & Hyde and Little Women. Some lighting design credits include Smokey Joe’s Café, Into the Woods, Grease, Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Hairspray and Sweeney Todd. While his true passions lie behind the scenes, he has also stepped out onto the stage in roles like Tobias in Sweeney Todd, Sonny in Grease and Ed in You Can’t Take It With You. He
is thrilled to be working with Derek and the D4G team.
Jeff is also owner of 13Theatrics, which also produced musicals for the Southern IL area.
He now serves on the board for the Jackson Co. Stage Company of Carbondale, IL. Within this organization, he serves many roles including, publicity, stage managing, and directing.
is thrilled to be working with Derek and the D4G team.
Jeff is also owner of 13Theatrics, which also produced musicals for the Southern IL area.
He now serves on the board for the Jackson Co. Stage Company of Carbondale, IL. Within this organization, he serves many roles including, publicity, stage managing, and directing.