Middle and High School                        Director: Cliff Keen, Jr.

Cliff has been involved with theatre since he was five years old and he felt an energy from being on that stage performing. Having taken flight when he attended Ansbach American High School in Ansbach, Germany when his father was stationed there, theatre has become a passion for him. He was able to realize this passion when his first Drama Teacher, Chrisanne Eastwood, now a famous comedian in Hollywood, helped guide him through his high school years. In his senior year he won Best of Festival awards for his acting in "Inherit the Wind" and several awards for his "Readers Theatre and Improvisional Skills", an award for excellence throughout Europe.

After high school, he jumped into theatre in the Ft. Stewart, Georgia Community. There he learned even more about his craft and starred in "Taming of the Shrew", "The Tempest", "Dreamgirls", "The Glass Menagerie", "Oliver", "Little Shop of Horrors", and many others. He was also named "Best Supporting Actor" by the FORSCOM acting committee for "The Tempest".

He then moved on to Savannah, Georgia where he learned not only more about his acting, but directing as well. Their he starred in "Here's Love", "Barefoot in the Park", "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers", "Oklahoma", "West Side Story", "Gypsy", "Meet Me in St.Louis", and "Father of the Bride". He also helped to direct several variety shows and directed, "The Christmas Post". It was during this time that he retained an agent in Atlanta, Georgia and was an extra in "Love Potion #9" and "Robocop 3". After a brief attempt to move onto bigger things, he found his love to be the theatre.

It was in Savannah that Cliff was fortunate to work with the Legendary Charles Strouse and his wife, Barbra Siman. Charles Strouse is known for his musicals, "Bye Bye Birdie" and "Annie".  He was cast in the show, "Once in Palm Beach" a musical that Mr. Strouse and his wife were writing for Broadway. One year later Cliff was invited back to help with the musical review of Charles Strouses' life, "A Lot Of Living".

He then relocated to Enterprise, Alabama and worked with SEACT in "Shoot", "I Hate Hamlet", and "A Few Good Men". He also directed the "Sam and Harry Dialogues" for Basketcase Theatre. It was after all this that he moved in Birmingham, Alabama in 2004 and began his association with theatre at the Leeds Arts Council in 2006 with "No, No Nanette". He has also starred in "Rehearsal For Murder", "Father of the Bride" and "Mousetrap". He also directed the highly successful summer productions of "Grease" and "The Sound of Music".  Mr. Keen has also directed several of our straight plays and will be directing "Beauty and the Beast" in July.

Cliff is the Director of Operations for RICHMARK, Inc., a franchisee of Pizza Hut Inc. He is currently working to finish his Bachelors Degree in Business. He enjoys science fiction particularly Star Wars and Star Trek. He is passionate about Disney and enjoys sports and the outdoors. Cliff thanks God, his mother and father, and Mark for keeping him sane and enjoying life to the fullest.