Speakeasy with Kevin Gillese (1)

The most hyperbolic possible headline would read "28-Year-Old Canadian Takes Over Dad’s Garage!" to announce the selection of Kevin Gillese as the Inman Park playhouse’s new artistic director. Currently the artistic director of Rapid Fire Theatre in Edmonton, Alberta, Gillese takes the reins at Dad’s in January, following his six-week European tour with Scratch, a long-form improv format he co-developed with Arlen Konopaki. Gillese, who once performed on Dad’s stage while still a teenager, will be the company’s third artistic director, following Kate Warner and co-founder Sean Daniels.

How well do you know Dad’s, and how well do you know Atlanta?

I know Dad’s a lot better than I know Atlanta. My first taste of international improv was coming to Dad’s for the World Domination TheatreSports Tournament in 1999. Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of working with Dad’s at other festivals, and bringing Dad’s up to Canada to work at my festival. During the interviews, they didn’t have to convince me that they were a cool, creative company. I already knew that. The opportunity to work with them was a carrot to me. I know the company quite well, but Atlanta will be a new experience for me.

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(Photo Courtesy Meryl Lawton)