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Arts & Entertainment

Nick Kryah To Hit 5,000-Performance Milestone

The St. Louis actor will mark the event with a January performance of 'The Giver' at the Edison Theatre in Clayton.

*Editor's note: An earlier version of the info box at the end of the article incorrectly identified the opening day of "The Giver." The play will begin showing Jan. 7. The box has been updated to reflect the correct starting date.

It was a long and fortuitous road that brought Nick Kryah to the Metro Theater Company and, this month, to the stage of the Edison Theatre in Clayton.

Born in West Virginia and raised in California, Kryah first came to St. Louis in 1967 as a student at Webster College (now Webster University) when the college's ownership changed hands from the Sisters of Loretto to a board of directors, making him a member of the first freshman class.

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After graduating, Kryah eventually found himself employed by Webster as technical director of the theater department and a playwriting teacher; production coordinator for The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis; and artistic director of Thaumaturgy, Webster College's former touring summer children's theatre.

The Metro Theater Company was founded in 1973, and Kryah left Webster to join it in 1977 as a technical director, actor, director and designer.

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He never looked back.

More than 30 years later, Kryah is scheduled to give his 5000th performance on Jan. 22 in Clayton when the Metro Theater Company presents Eric Coble's The Giver, a play based on the novel by Lois Lowry about a utopian society that turns out to not be so perfect after all.

We asked Mr. Kryah about The Giver, The Metro Theater Company, local theater as a profession and reaching 5,000 performances.

What is the outlook for theater in St. Louis?

It's good ... . It's here to stay. I was just reading where there were nine openings in one week. There's a lot of small theaters and theater-based organizations trying to find ways to get younger people into theater—away from computers, away from television—and show them what theater can do.

You've made a career of theater in one city. What advice would you give to people starting out?

If you're staying, don't specialize. I've never had to wait tables because I could write and teach. I was able to dive in as an educator. Do what you have to do—design, teach, write, make costumes—that's how I was able to piece it together. Don't lock yourself into one thing. Look for something on the outside. Finding something you can do to make a living can be tricky.

What does Metro Theater Company provide the area?

The education component is not only for young people. It's geared to social issues to enhance and supplement curriculum to schools. We work very closely with teachers to find out what they need.

Does your educational component set you apart from similar organizations?

That makes us different. We teach human lessons about life and living together. Our shows are not so much to entertain as much as they are to give a feeling. To generate intellectual discussions. Teachers can take that and deal with it.

Could you give an example?

The play we're doing now is about bullying (Tomato Plant Girl), but it's an emotional play and it generates tons of discussion. That doesn't mean it's not theatrical or fun, but what can be taken away from it? We're known nationally as a company that takes on issues.

You'll reach your 5,000th performance in your next production, The Giver, which, in spite of receiving the Newbery Medal, is one of the most challenged books of the 1990s. Do you expect any backlash?

There could be some slack over The Giver. But since we're performing at the Edison—not in the schools—people and school groups will either come or they won't.

In your own words, what's The Giver about?

It's a story about a utopian society and your responding to it. It's about choice. My character says, "We gave up color when we gave up sunshine." It's about tradeoff. How much freedom and responsibility are you willing to give up in order to get something in return? This is a really important message for kids.

How does theater help bring these messages to the forefront?

Instead of saying, "Don't do this, don't do that" in theater, you show people screwing up, making mistakes. Then the young people don't have to do it themselves to learn that it's wrong.

How do you feel about your 5,000th performance?

I stand in awe of myself. It shows that if you stick around long enough ... but I'm more excited about the show. I'm not going to quit after 5,000, but don't look for 5,000 more.

WHAT The Giver, a play by Eric Coble and based on the novel by Lois Lowry, presented by the Metro Theater Company WHEN Jan. 7* to Jan. 23 WHERE Edison Theatre at Washington University TICKETS Call 314-935-6543 or go to the Edison Theatre Web site
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