CONTACT:
Doug Krejci, 319-399-1739
dakrejci@aol.com
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (January 30, 2024) – Cedar Rapids media producer, percussionist and theatre lighting designer Doug Krejci has parlayed his professional media expertise into a new mode of giving back. Traveling across the United States, he serves as a judge and clinician to high school and college speech, theatre, media and band programs. In 2023 alone, Krejci adjudicated 10 theatre, 6 speech and 9 marching band competitions, helping hundreds of students with their performances.
While he has been an arts judge for more than a decade, he was recently named an approved adjudicator for USBands and a lighting ambassador for Rosco, a global theatrical lighting company.
“I’m excited to share more of my theatrical production expertise with educators and students across the country,” Krejci said. “I love the idea of giving back and have enjoyed adjudicating high school music, speech contests, media, and theatrical productions, too. Now, I’m judging events in other parts of the United States and speaking at colleges and theatre festivals as an ambassador for Rosco.”
Last year, Krejci spoke about lighting design and gel color theory at The Iowa Thespian Festival and his alma mater, Buena Vista University. He judged for USBands in Idaho and was asked to judge the Missouri State Marching Association State Championship.
Karoline Myers, Director of Education of Des Moines Performing Arts, has witnessed Krejci’s adjudication for the Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards.
“Doug brings the range of his professional theater experience to adjudication. He has a strong lens for how the various elements and areas of a production contribute to the overall effectiveness of the storytelling,” Myers said. “His background in technical theater and production brings extra insights to schools and students, as technical knowledge is often a bigger gap in directors’ knowledge than performance areas.”
Krejci has judged Iowa High School Speech Association competitions since 2020.
“Doug’s special interests include Radio News, Short Film, and TV News judging. He enthusiastically believes in the mission of the IHSSA and embracing each student to grow as a creative entity,” said Stacy Hansen, Iowa High School Speech Association Executive Director.
Knowing that students feel intimidated when being judged, Krejci provides positive feedback and reassurance.
“We want to build their confidence with constructive comments-that’s what helps students improve their performances, whether they are in band, speech, theatre or media competitions,” he said. “Nobody wants students to do well more than I do.”
This spring, Krejci can be found judging media competitions, giving educational talks about Rosco lighting, and adjudicating for indoor marching band contests, documenting a high school band trip to Florida, and adjudicating solo/ensemble contests in multiple states. He is one of the longest-serving percussion adjudicators for the Iowa High School Music Association and looks forward to more opportunities to judge USBands competitions and other national adjudication opportunities.
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Photo by Sachiko Goto
OTHER PHOTO OPTIONS, ADJUDICATIONS PERFORMED & RESUMES:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/12yOs6XAqXeeLeYeigLAKKu80OEOtX8Dg?usp=sharing