Ed and his wife Kathy have called Columbia, Missouri their home for the past thirty years. During that time, Ed was a music educator for two different public school districts. With three children either in college or out on their own, he chose to retire from teaching in 2008 and pursue theatre on a fulltime basis. Ed holds a Bachelor of Music Education and a Masters in Vocal Performance, both from the University of Missouri.

While still at the university, Ed appeared in such productions as Once Upon a Mattress (Jester), Finian’s Rainbow (Senator Rawkins), and Cabaret (waiter/soldier), as well as opera productions of The Crucible (Judge Danforth) and The Magic Flute (Monostatos). He also spent a summer in MU’s Repertory Theatre, appearing in Ah, Wilderness! (Wint Selby) and Pal Joey (The Tenor).

From 1981-1990, he served Maplewood Barn Community Theatre as its Theatre Manager, handling publicity, scheduling, advertising, programs, box office, grant writing, and other assorted tasks. Besides acting, he also directed both children’s theatre and mainstage productions and did musical direction for such productions as Sweet Charity, Camelot, Fiddler on the Roof, Iolanthe, The Robber Bridegroom, and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Since 1990, Ed has appeared in many productions in Columbia, mostly with MU’s Summer Repertory Theatre (five summers) and with Maplewood Barn.

Since his retirement from public education, Ed has completed productions with four different professional theater companies, and he has appeared in a television commercial for MU Online Courses. He traveled to New York City in March in response to an invitation to audition for a national tour of “The Wizard of Oz”. He looks forward to networking with other professionals in the business and auditioning for even more companies. Ed is an Equity Member Candidate.