Tim Krause’s Last Curtain Call

Tim Krause’s Last Curtain Call

One thought comes to our mind when we think of Tim Krause; a
remarkable human being.  What astonishes us
about Tim is his dedication to Milagro Theatre, love for the arts, friends onstage
and offstage, and kindness to all theatre enthusiasts.  Last week Marketing
Assistant
, Stefanus Gunawan, was given the opportunity to chat with Tim before his last curtain
call about his future plans.

Farewell Lunch for Tim Krause
Tim, your departure from Milagro Theatre saddens us all
here.  As you venture into bigger and better things, can you recapitulate your
time with Milagro thus far?

Where do I start?  So
much has changed over the past seven seasons, for both me and for Milagro.  We’ve both grown quite a bit, and it’s been a
real pleasure to be a part of the Milagro family.  In fact, when I started, I remember that’s how
José even offered the job, by inviting me to be a part of the family.  And I think everyone, from audiences to staff to even our donors, will agree that the qualities of
family, home and belonging are hallmarks of Milagro.

How has being a Marketing Director for Milagro impacted
you as a person and your future goals?
When I started working here in 2006, I was really excited to
be able to combine my two passions: theatre and Spanish.  There are so few places in town — in the
country, for that matter — where those interests align in an arts
administration position.  So I’ve always
felt very fortunate to have had this unique opportunity, not only because it
led me back to professional theatre, but also because (coincidentally) it gave
me my first opportunity to go back to school to earn a post-bac degree in
Spanish.  So I arrived at Milagro in
school, and I depart Milagro in school.
But more to the question, I can see how my experience at
Milagro has fed my creativity and curiosity.  Placing myself at the intersection of
cultures, understanding the impact of language — these are but two examples of
how the past seven seasons have led me to now investigate the world of applied
linguistics and TESOL at Portland State University.  And the further I get into this program, the
more I am excited about its duality, one that combines equally the theory and
science with day-to-day applications.
What are some of your best memories here in Milagro? 
Favorite shows?
Well, the Day of the Dead shows are always top of my list,
but among them are other favorites, such as Lazarillo, Boomcracklefly, Songs
for a New World, Entre Villa y una mujer desnuda
, and Oya: Call the
Storm
.
Tim Krause enjoying opening night for Guapa
What will you miss most of Milagro?
What I will probably miss the most is working with the
artists, staff and volunteers.  I admire
them all — those you see onstage, those who work backstage and, for me
personally, the visual artists who create the artwork for the postcards and
whose work we exhibit in the lobby.  It’s
as if I were the director of my own Latino art gallery!  But I’ve been collecting pieces over the
years, so my home is now filled with the vibrant work of these wonderful
artists who have also become my friends.
As you slowly exit the stage, what will you do now in the
near future?
Well, I will turn to my studies full time beginning this
spring.  Depending on my pace, the
master’s program should take about 18 months to complete.  While in school, I am freelancing as an editor
for a Boston company that provides transcripts using automatic speech
recognition software, a serendipitous position that happens to actually relate
to my studies.  I am working on becoming
certified as a braille transcriber and, time permitting, I hope to also take on
some creative projects here and there, maybe as a dramaturg or something like
that.  I know that I will be drawn back
to theatre, as I have been in the past after a hiatus.  But for now, this is my path, even though I am
not sure where it will lead.  The truth
is that, for me, it’s less about advancing a particular career and more about satiating
my own curiosity.  That said, I think
this degree will come in handy when I’m ready to retire abroad.
Tim Krause and Julieth Maya Buri
Our new Marketing Director, Julieth Maya Buri, has been
working hard to fill in your shoes.  Are there any words of encouragement for
her?
Working at an organization like Milagro means that your job
is more than a job, but you can make of it whatever you want.  Milagro is full of opportunity.  And have fun!

Any last words you would like to say to Milagro Theatre
fans, clients, and colleagues?
“Long live the ephemeral” and may our paths
continue to cross down the road.