We recently connected with Richard Hitchler and have shared our conversation below.

Richard, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

When I was a pre-med major in college, my professor/advisor told me that I should “try new things”. I left his office, walked over to the fine arts building, auditioned for the leading role in a play and got it. Right then and there I knew what I wanted to do. The next day I changed my major and never looked back. The year after college was over, I found myself waiting tables, like 99% of the actors in town. One day, when I was asking for an extended period of time off because I was cast in a show, the owner happened to be walking by and said, “You better decide if you’re going to work here or do that theatre thing!” — I turned in my apron for the last time and decided that I was going to “make it” no matter what that meant. I learned how to do every aspect of theatre to ensure that I would be kept employed.

Richard, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I was the executive and artistic director of a youth theatre, SteppingStone Theatre, for nearly 20 years before starting a new theatre called Theatre 55, who’s mission is to enrich the lives of elders as actors, audience, and life-long learners. I’ve been working as a producer, director, actor, and theatre maker for 30 years now and have worked with some amazing folks; some have gone on to star on Broadway, movies, TV, regional theaters, or became social and cultural leaders in their own communities. In my role as the artistic director of SteppingStone Theatre, I created over 60 new works for the canon of children’s theatre, many of which went on to be produced at places like The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, Dallas Children’s Theatre, First Stage Milwaukee, The National Theatre for the Deaf, and many more.
As the founder and director of Theatre 55, I was instrumental in bringing “senior theatre” to the state of Minnesota, was featured in the New York Times, and have conducted symposiums on theatre for seniors across the country.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Attend events, performances, readings, art shows, etc. Donate, donate, donate. Set up a group to regularly attend and donate financially to your local organizations that support artists, present live performances, or display artwork. Write to your local legislative personnel and tell them the importance of the arts in the community and why you choose to support the arts. And help spread the word through your own social media about events, performances, art shows, etc.

: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The arts are healing, community building, and economic drivers that make for a better community and better living environment. The arts tell stories, provoke thought, and build confidence and self-esteem. My goal is to see that people have access to the arts and are able to create and be creative from birth to death. Shared communal experiences that come from the arts provides this opportunity.

Contact Info:

• Website: Theatre55.org
• Facebook: Theatre 55