April 10, 2024
Alan Toll
Submitted by Alan Toll
My wife Rachel and I have been volunteers for the Kingsmen Shakespeare Company since its first production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream over 25 years ago. She volunteered backstage as a dresser and I worked alongside Tim Hengst as a lighting board and sound operator.
My two boys Keith and Kenny were cast as ensemble members and have been cast in numerous productions ever since. When they were not in the shows, they would hang out backstage and catch frogs in the creek. Kenny grew up to be a professional stage actor. He was an apprentice for a year when he was in college and has been cast in many productions in more important roles throughout the years and is now living his dream as an actor in New York.
My wife and I always say that Kingsmen was like their summer camp. We’ve worked every year. I am now a member of the board. Kingsmen has been a labor of love for us Tolls. We are very proud of our involvement, bringing wonderful professional live theatre to the community. Our greatest joy now is bringing our 2 granddaughters, Kate and Natalie , 11 and 8 to the shows and even watching them search for frogs in the creek. We appreciate Cal Lutheran’s Support of the Company.