By Eileen Wingard
LA JOLLA, California — Joey Landwher is a community treasure! On Tuesday, October 18, The San Diego City Council will be recognizing him by officially proclaiming Joey Landwehr Day to honor his dedication to the theatrical arts and to youth. This New York actor and director, who worked on and off Broadway, on national tours, and in regional theatre, moved to San Diego to be Membership and Community Development Director of the San Diego Performing Arts League.
In his work with theater companies throughout our region, he encountered Becky Cherlin, founder of the JCompany, the highly-acclaimed Youth Theater Company at the Lawrence Family JCC. She told him that the JCC needed to find a successor for her because she was soon to have a child and did not plan to continue. Would he be interested? Landwehr applied and has been the Artistic Director for JCompany Youth Theatre for the past decade.
Entering Landwehr’s office, I was particularly intrigued by his bookcases. Yes, some shelves were lined with notebooks filled with scripts, but others were crowded with stuffed animal teddy bears, each in a different costume. Landwehr explained that he had a bear from each show and that they were sold as souvenir fundraisers. A talented dressmaker creates a miniature costume to represent each show. This was another indication of Joey’s creativity.
Since I have a grandchild in the JCompany, I have attended many of the productions and am always impressed by the high level of performances Landwehr achieves. After ten years, his eyes still light up when he speaks about the youngsters with whom he works. “I can’t believe I’m here. I get to work with beautiful young people and incredible parents,” he exclaimed.
I always enjoy reading his comments about the show in the printed program. He culls the universal meaning of each production.
For example, his message in the June 18, 2015 program for Rent stated: “Some say Rent is too “adult” for young people to perform. We say Rent is too important for our young people not to perform.Rent’s power is in its raw honesty. And it is this raw quality that makes Rent the perfect show to kick off JCompany’s R.A.W. summer series. Just 5 days ago, these 18 young people walked into rehearsal prepared, but hungering for more. Each day, they grew and discovered great truths about the world, both on and off the stage. Tonight is the culmination of their incredible efforts. It is nearly impossible to think that they started this process just 5 days ago, but that is what JCompany’s R.A.W. Series is all about: the thrill of the challenge and the magic of the creative process. Every theatrical project starts just like this with a group of artists making discoveries.“
Landwehr has the students do research about the shows and their own individual roles. For the Titanic staged reading, the young actors were required to learn about the historical figures they were portraying. The students are convincing in their roles because they have an understanding of what they are representing beyond the words in the script. Landwehr treats them with respect and has the highest expectations of these “young artists,” as he refers to them.
One parent recently wrote, “The shows are super organized. And the kids are motivated to do their best for Joey.” Her daughter has performed with three different companies, but appreciates the structure at JCompany. “It’s a well oiled machine.” A grandmother remarked, “even though her role is small, my eight-year-old granddaughter takes her part very seriously and is always inspired to do her best.”
Joey Landwehr takes pride in some of the other activities of JCompany. The JCompany has two choruses, On the Town and As One.
Both serve as ambassadors of the company, performing for charitable events such as the 2016 Heart Of A Child Benefit Concert and the Rady Children’s Hospital’s Conference and at concerts such as Abbamania and Dave Koz Live. They often participate in events in the Jewish Community such as the San Diego Jewish Book Fair and the Yom HaShoah Commemoration.
One performance of every staged show is presented at no charge to underserved San Diego youth and their families. Some of the communities that joined this season included the Naval Base San Diego Fleet and Family Support Center, Voices for Children and Jewish Family Service of San Diego. That project is titled, “Random Acts of Culture.”
The company also has a student-run community service group, Artists Taking Action, which finds inventive ways to fundraise and give back to the community.
Landwehr strongly fosters partnerships and has forged, in the 2015-16 season, partnerships with Broadway San Diego, San Diego Musical Theatre and the Old Globe, bringing touring professionals to lead master classes for JCompany students.
The inspiring youth theater director received his masters of fine arts degree in acting and directing from Ohio State University and has studied under many well-known professionals such as the famous French mime, Marcel Marceau, actors Uta Hagen, Anne Bogart and F. Murray Abraham, and dance director and choreographer, Twila Tharpe.
Since 2014, Joey has served as the Artistic Director for the Ben Vereen Awards by Broadway/San Diego.
This year, he was nominated by Ben Vereen, with additional letters from the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center Director, Michael Cohen, and JCompany’s award-winning actor, Cameron Chang, for a Tony Award. In 2007, he received the “40 Under 40” Award from San Diego Metropolitan Magazine for outstanding leadership in the Arts, in 2011, he was honored as the San Diego Newsmaker of the year in the Arts and now, this
Tuesday, the San Diego City Council will proclaim Joey Landwher Day, the first time anyone in the arts in San Diego has been so honored. The JCompany and all its supporters have reason to be proud. Bravo, Joey Landwher!
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Wingard is a former violinist with the San Diego Symphony and a freelance writer who specializes in the arts. She may be contacted via eileen.wingard@sdjewishworld.com.