About Brandt Blocker

Blocker, 34, a native of New Orleans, is currently the Producing Director of Brandt Blocker Presents, LLC, a full scale production company that presents large scale, award-winning theatrical entertainments in southeastern Louisiana.

Before starting his own production company, Blocker was Director of Development and Marketing of Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre, the country's oldest continuously operating community theatre, and also served as a stage and musical director for the New Orleans company's main stage musicals and children's shows.

He is a recent recipient of five Big Easy Entertainment Awards, New Orleans's premiere event honoring the musical and theatrical talent of a city renowned for its outstanding performing arts. Blocker has also been recognized for his work with The Jefferson Performing Arts Society and The Rivertown Repertory Theatre.

Mr. Blocker studied vocal music at Loyola University under the tutelage of Philip Frohnmayer and Mona Bond. In his role as an educator, his students have received scholarships from New York University, Oxford University, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Florida State University, Tulane University, Loyola New Orleans, and The American Musical and Dramatic Academyin New York City. Additionally, his students have appeared on and off Broadway stages in several acclaimed productions.

Mr. Blocker has had the privilege to serve as a vocal music clinician teaching alongside famed choreographer Dee Dee Wood, actress Anita Gillette and Tony Award winner Chita Rivera.

A native of New Orleans, Brandt Blocker recently produced and directed critically acclaimed, sold-out productions of "The Musical of Musicals: The Musical!" (winner of three Big East Entertainment Awards), "The All Night Strut", "Schoolhouse Rock Live!", "A Year with Frog and Toad", "Some Enchanted Evening: The Songs of Rodgers & Hammerstein" (2005 Marquee Award for Best Musical), "Seussical the Musical", and "Little Shop of Horrors" (winner of five Big Easy Entertainment Awards).

He was stage and musical director of Le Petit Theatre?s main stage productions of And The World Goes 'Round, Grease!, Five Guys Names Moe, Leader of the Pack (2002 Marquee Award for Best Musical, Best Director of a Musical and Best Musical Direction), and The Sound of Music. Blocker was also stage and musical director for the critically acclaimed Big Easy, Storer Boone and Marquee Award-winner for Best Musical 2004, Smokey Joe's Café, for the Jefferson Performing Arts Society.

As director of Le Petit's Corner Theatre, Blocker directed sold-out productions of "Snoopy!!!", "Bye, Bye Birdie", "Free To Be...You" and "Me, Honk!" (2002 Storer Boone Award for Best Children's Show), Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella", "Schoolhouse Rock", "Live!", and "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" ( 2001 Storer Boone Award for Best Children's Show and a Marquee Award for Best Musical Direction.)

He recently staged the New Orleans Opera Association's Metropolitan Opera Hansel and Gretel and Too Many Sopranos for Southeastern Louisiana University's department of music and dramatic arts.

From 1994-1998, Blocker was the resident musical director at the Rivertown Repertory Theatre where he served as both vocal director and/or conductor for "Evita", "Nunsense", "The Will Rogers Follies", "I Do, I Do!", "Oliver", "Romance/Romance", "Into the Woods", "George M!", "My Fair Lady", and "Baby".

A Message from Artistic Director Emeritus, J. Lynn Thompson

Ever since I was in high school, I have dreamed of leading a music theatre company--working with the finest singers, directors, designers and conducting a orchestra--rehearsing and performing the greatest works from the world of music theatre. For the past twenty seven years, I have lived my dream.

After twenty-seven wonderful years of living my dream, I am announcing my resignation as Artistic Director for Atlanta Lyric Theatre, effective May 1, 2007. As most of you know, my life has taken several unexpected turns over the last 18 months and I, along with my beautiful wife Adelia, have made a commitment to be together and make our home in Birmingham, Alabama. I wanted you to hear this from me directly.

This was a very difficult decision for me, due in large part to the fact that I care so very much about the art The Lyric creates, but even more so because of the incredible friends I have made. For most of my adult life, I have in some shape or form been a part of the dream that began back in the fall of 1980 with the fledgling operetta company named The Southeastern Savoyards which many of you know grew into Atlanta Lyric Theatre. I have dedicated myself to the support and promotion of the incredible pool of talented local artists. I am blessed with a wealth of wonderful experiences that many of you have shared with me over the last 27 years. I am extremely proud of the work we have done together, the impact we have made on our community and the message of commitment and quality that has gone into the 100+ productions staged by the company during that time. I leave with a heavy - but - grateful heart.

J. Lynn Thompson
Artistic Director Emeritus
Artistic/Music Director 1980 ? 2007