Derek Long: Seeing life itself as an education with silver linings along the way

Derek Long LLC was started by Derek “to create theatre productions that are cutting edge and inclusive, if that means going against the status quo then so be it. I’ve had an interest in theatre ever since I can remember; the whole process of imagining, creating, and the telling of the story. It can involve everything in the performing arts: acting, music, dance, art in costume and scenic design. Theatre is the world to me.”

Beginnings in rural Wisconsin

Derek’s home growing up was located about an hour south of Milwaukee and two hours from Chicago. He explains, “My parents took us kids to many cultural events in both cities. I think that was the most influential part of our education growing up.”

Derek continued education at The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he completed a Theatre/Art double major. It was a small university, but it provided constant opportunity for hands-on training, particularly in acting.

"There was always a role for you in a smaller theatre program, and I was fortunate to play several substantial characters, from Oedipus to the Cabaret Emcee," he said.

Life as ongoing education

Derek decided to take the plunge and look for work out in the world of theater. His costume work in the theatre program got him a “9 to 5 job” in Chicago as an assistant in the alterations department of a group of fashion houses. At the same time, he auditioned for acting work on the side. He managed to land some stage roles and even found background work in film productions whenever they came to town.

After 10 years in Chicago, Derek decided it was now or never to make acting happen, so he moved to Los Angeles. He found a smaller job that gave him the freedom to focus on theatre.

He took acting classes on the side, landed stage roles, as well as some film roles in independent films. Along the way, he met and worked with many fascinating and talented people, from many diverse backgrounds. D

Derek reflects, “Education is definitely more than formal schooling. It’s the day jobs and the day-to-day functions as an adult. It’s the people you cross paths with, and the places and the problems and the predicaments. Life is an education.”

Derek worked with Pandora Productions Theatre Company in Long Beach, Calif. He started with acting roles, then they gave him the opportunity to explore directing, and eventually producing.

He explains, “The connections with new playwrights also created a valuable legacy for me.”

An ironic turn

Alex met his spouse, Alexander Collett, when they were both living in Los Angeles.

Alexander is from Morganton. Climate change started making living conditions difficult,

particularly when the wildfires were getting too close for comfort to their property, so they

decided it was time for a change. Derek explains, “I had visited Morganton several times over

the years on holidays to visit Alexander’s family, and it always seemed like North Carolina was

a great place to live. We decided Asheville would be the logical transition from Los Angeles, so

we settled on a property there.”

Derek and Alex were staying in Morganton while the house was getting some

renovations. They got a call early one morning from their contractor, saying the house had

burned to the ground! An electrical fire was the probable cause, and the property was remote enough that no one was able to report the fire until the flames were in the sky. By the time the firefighters made it out there, it was too late. It has a strange irony; in that they left LA partly to avoid wildfires.

Silver Linings

Derek puts a positive spin on the experience, “It came with many silver linings. We were covered by builder’s insurance, which helped us in the re-build. We were safe here in Morganton with our pets, and everything was still in storage. And we were surrounded by family. It allowed us years of time here in Morganton, where we have met so many along the way. We got through the pandemic here with plenty of love and support, as well as a new appreciation for Burke County’s beautiful outdoor spaces.”

Enriching our community

While here in Morganton Derek has put his gifts to good use. A standout directing experience for Derek was Old Colony Players’ "SWEENEY TODD", "THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET", by Stephen Sondheim, at their amphitheater in Valdese. Derek’s most recent theatre experience came last year with his LLC’s production of "ALL THE OXYTOCIN IN YOUR FINGERTIPS", by Cary Simowitz, presented at CoMMA. The story revolves around The Deaf Community, and it used the concept of dual casting, where a deaf actor and a hearing actor share the same role on stage.

“To successfully create something innovative and help bridge the gap between deaf and hearing,” he says, “with ticket proceeds benefiting Alder Springs Deaf and blind community, has been a very rewarding experience for me.” He is looking forward to this year’s Derek Long LLC’s production of "A WOLF’S MOTHER", also written by Cary Simowitz, also deaf/hearing inclusive, and will again to be presented at CoMMA.

Grateful to our community

Derek is grateful for his time in Burke County. He reflects, “I’ve met countless new colleagues along the way, both deaf and hearing in our community, and I look forward to working with them again. Alex and I will finally be making our move into our new home in Asheville this summer. We’ll be letting our two cats and three pointers run loose in search of critters, and you’ll find us out back, plotting vegetables in the garden. We’ll finally call Asheville home, but we will always consider Burke County part of our community.”