Art & Culture

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CREATIVE LIFE CREATIVE LIFE

Iknow personally only a few people who have a Wikipedia page. One is a famous, Oscar winning movie actor and musician. One is a Forever Miss Georgia who became Miss America in 2016. One calls Shreveport his home. Richard Folmer is well known to many of us in the Shreveport-Bossier community as a beloved and gifted actor and an accomplished theatre production director. He served as the Artistic Director for the East Bank Theatre in Bossier City for 25 years and is founding member of the Company Repertory Theatre. Over the years we have been blessed with his quick-witted conversations and his personal stories of his film, television, and stage roles. I could sit for hours and listen to him reminisce of his vast experiences on stage both professionally and in community theatre. Born in Cortland, New York, Richard’s father was an attorney and served in the State House of Representatives. Richard’s very first role was in a production of Lee Bobo Chinatown Detective. The director of that show managed to keep up with Richard and submitted his name to the Sacandaga Summer Theatre. It was there that Richard learned to build sets, paint, run lights and sound and work as a crew member. Much to his father’s chagrin, Richard found theatre to be his true passion. Richard met his wife, Ginger, at Syracuse University where he had earned his undergraduate and master’s degree. Ginger, a native of Shreveport, was enrolled in the master’s program. They eventually moved to New York City where Richard pursued his acting career. Richard moved his home base

when Ginger was offered a position at Centenary College in Shreveport. He traveled a great deal with touring companies, landing roles in film and television, and furthering his training when he found the time. They have been married for 56 years and have been each other’s greatest supporters. During those years, they had a son, Sloan, and managed to live a comfortable and highly creative life. Richard has been acting, directing, and teaching theatre and film for over 50 years. His stage and film resume could fill more pages than this column will allow. Most notably he has appeared in August Osage County and Proof at Centenary College and The Gin Game for the River City Repertory Theatre. Other dramatic roles include C.S. Lewis in Shadowlands (one of his favorites), Henry Drummond in Inherit the Wind and Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman, and On Golden Pond with his wife, Ginger Folmer. His musical comedy credits locally include Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, King Arthur in Camelot, Harold Hill in The Music Man, and Zorba in Zorba. He has directed both musicals and dramas. Memorable musicals such as Mary Poppins, Les Miserables, Anything Goes, Guys and Dolls, Kiss Me Kate, The Sound of Music, The Music Man, Forever Plaid, Fiddler on the Roof, Crazy for You and Nunsense. Dramatic productions that include A Few Good Men, Ordinary People, The Mousetrap, and Laura. Not all of Richard Folmer’s contributions have been made to live theatre, however. He has also enjoyed a lengthy career in film and television rubbing elbows with the likes of John Goodman in Kingfish, Dennis Hopper in Double Crossed dia page. One is a famous, Oscar winning movie actor and and Robert Duvall in Stars Fell on Henrietta. He has also appeared in the series Longmire and Walker, Texas Ranger with Chuck Norris. The list could go on and on. Suffice it to say, Richard has led a Richard Folmer is well known to many of us in the Shreve- fulfilling acting life. Those who have been fortunate enough port-Bossier community as a beloved and gifted actor and an to share the stage with him or have been under his skillful direction in a local production, have benefitted from his generArtistic Director for the East Bank Theatre in Bossier City ous wealth of knowledge. Richard has done so much for our for 25 years and is founding member of the Company Rep- theatre community and will no doubt, continue to share his talents for years to come. his film, television, and stage roles. I could sit for hours and Born in Cortland, New York, Richard’s father was an attor ney and served in the State House of Representatives. RichIt was there that Richard learned to build sets, paint, run Richard met his wife, Ginger, at Syracuse University where August Osage County and for the River City Reperto and Laura. Not all of Richard Folmer’s contributions have been made to live theatre, however. He has also enjoyed a lengthy career fulfilling acting life. Those who have been fortunate enough rection in a local production, have benefitted from his gener