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Listen "Good for Business - Episode 34 - Garrett Torbert"
Episode Synopsis
Good for Business - Episode 34 - Garrett Torbert
The episode centers on Garrett Torbert, artistic director and founder behind what has become the Golden Triangle Theater in Columbus, Mississippi. Garrett shares his journey from growing up in Theodore, Alabama, studying classical voice and opera, and eventually earning a doctorate in music. A mutual connection led him to a position at Mississippi State University, and his side work as a church musician at Annunciation Catholic Church in Columbus helped him fall in love with the town and put down roots there, even as he navigated the chaos of moving during the 2020 COVID shutdown.
From there, the conversation dives into the origin story of Golden Triangle Theater. During the pandemic, Garrett went looking for a creative outlet and community, posting a simple Google form to gauge interest in drama classes and private lessons. That small idea quickly snowballed: with the help of Tennille Komulainen, local parents, and supportive venues like the church and the Arts Council’s Rack, they launched classes, then a showcase, then a full production of Beauty and the Beast Jr. with 55 kids involved. The community rallied—building sets, sewing costumes, and filling the house—and from that momentum grew a season of shows, opportunities for adults, and a growing, intergenerational theater “tribe.”
The episode also explores how the theater has evolved into a full-fledged arts organization with staff, in‑school programming, and ambitious seasons. Garrett talks about leaving his university job to focus on the theater, bringing on key people like Isabella Powell, Sarah Wade, Cori Reese, Allison Jones, and powerhouse student‑teacher Sadie Hicks, and expanding into community music lessons, school partnerships, and sensory‑friendly performances (like the one for Elf Jr.). You and Garrett preview upcoming productions—Elf Jr., a murder‑mystery farce (“Farndale”), Madagascar Jr., and a big community production of Hairspray—while underscoring a core theme of the episode: in a small river town full of history and character, theater isn’t just entertainment, it’s a way to build life skills, community, and a sustainable arts culture that includes everyone from kids and Air Force families to attorneys, realtors, and first‑time performers.
https://www.goldentriangletheatre.com/
Host Colin Krieger is a top Realtor and home restoration specialist in the Golden Triangle region of Mississippi and is a community leader who focuses on fundraising endeavors that support those in need.
The episode centers on Garrett Torbert, artistic director and founder behind what has become the Golden Triangle Theater in Columbus, Mississippi. Garrett shares his journey from growing up in Theodore, Alabama, studying classical voice and opera, and eventually earning a doctorate in music. A mutual connection led him to a position at Mississippi State University, and his side work as a church musician at Annunciation Catholic Church in Columbus helped him fall in love with the town and put down roots there, even as he navigated the chaos of moving during the 2020 COVID shutdown.
From there, the conversation dives into the origin story of Golden Triangle Theater. During the pandemic, Garrett went looking for a creative outlet and community, posting a simple Google form to gauge interest in drama classes and private lessons. That small idea quickly snowballed: with the help of Tennille Komulainen, local parents, and supportive venues like the church and the Arts Council’s Rack, they launched classes, then a showcase, then a full production of Beauty and the Beast Jr. with 55 kids involved. The community rallied—building sets, sewing costumes, and filling the house—and from that momentum grew a season of shows, opportunities for adults, and a growing, intergenerational theater “tribe.”
The episode also explores how the theater has evolved into a full-fledged arts organization with staff, in‑school programming, and ambitious seasons. Garrett talks about leaving his university job to focus on the theater, bringing on key people like Isabella Powell, Sarah Wade, Cori Reese, Allison Jones, and powerhouse student‑teacher Sadie Hicks, and expanding into community music lessons, school partnerships, and sensory‑friendly performances (like the one for Elf Jr.). You and Garrett preview upcoming productions—Elf Jr., a murder‑mystery farce (“Farndale”), Madagascar Jr., and a big community production of Hairspray—while underscoring a core theme of the episode: in a small river town full of history and character, theater isn’t just entertainment, it’s a way to build life skills, community, and a sustainable arts culture that includes everyone from kids and Air Force families to attorneys, realtors, and first‑time performers.
https://www.goldentriangletheatre.com/
Host Colin Krieger is a top Realtor and home restoration specialist in the Golden Triangle region of Mississippi and is a community leader who focuses on fundraising endeavors that support those in need.
More episodes of the podcast The Good for Business Podcast with Eric & Colin Krieger
Good for Business - Episode 32 - Clay Bowen
03/12/2025
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