January 24 • 2019 49
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“Jeffrey and I were business part-
ners for 20 years,” McCollum says.
“We have had companies together
but have worked on shows inde-
pendently.”
McCollum, currently immersed
in various projects through his own
company Alchemation, is giving
considerable time to the develop-
ment of a musical stage version of
the film Mrs. Doubtfire.
“In my ethic of being Jewish, I
want to contribute,” says McCollum,
who started as a musical theater
actor with training at the University
of Cincinnati College-Conservatory
of Music and earned a master’
s
degree in film producing from
the Peter Stark Program at the
University of Southern California.
“When I was 26 and still playing
17-year-olds in musicals, I was get-
ting a little bored. I started investing
in my friends and still have a part
of the company called The Booking
Office. Through booking, Jeffrey and
I got started producing.”
Because of his performance history,
McCollum believes he holds a special
connection with performers while
assuming a different perspective.
“I have an artist’
s heart even
though I spend a lot of my time
doing the business of theater,” he
says. “I’
m not trying to be in charge.
I’
m someone trying to collaborate.”
Successful collaboration has
brought four Tony Awards, one for
set design displayed in The Play That
Goes Wrong. The very design that
stirred Broadway acclaim will be in
Detroit.
“When I look at the Tony Awards
from plays I’
ve produced, I think of
all the people I met and the relation-
ships I’
ve had doing the shows,” he
explains. “The show is the thing, but
the people are everything.”
LOVE OF THEATER
As McCollum heads home after work-
ing hours, he does not leave show busi-
ness behind. His wife is musical theater
actress Lynnette Perry. His daughter is
studying theater, and his son is prepar-
ing for film school.
The producer gives the same advice
to his children that he gives to aspiring
actors.
“I advise young actors to be in this
business for passion,
” says McCollum,
56. “People make a lot of money in
this business, but they do it by falling
in love with the business first. They
shouldn’
t do it because they’
re trying
to get the approval from anyone other
than themselves. They have to love
doing it because they need that love to
sustain them in a very difficult [occu-
pation].
”
As McCollum seeks production
projects, he usually looks for big-idea
musicals that celebrate finding family
against all odds.
The Play That Goes Wrong takes a
bit of a detour from his musical route,
partly because it originated in England.
Among a group of producers, he heard
about the show, saw it and wanted to
bring it to America.
“Plays like this have been out of
fashion, and I’
m a contrarian,
” says
McCollum, who grew up in Hawaii
and Illinois. “When people see this
play well executed with comic timing
and all the physical comedy, they real-
ize how wonderful it is. I promise audi-
ences will be surprised and delighted.
“Our physiology changes when we
laugh. The dopamine and serotonin
in everybody’
s brain give a sense of
well-being. Gathering in a darkened
room with strangers and sharing
laughter have people leaving as a
family and a community, and that’
s
powerful.” ■
Humor reminiscent of Yiddish theater is part of the humor that sparks
belly laughs from audiences.
JEREMY DANIEL
Worry about
your Torah
portion.
Not your service hours.
Because We Care offers fun and fulfilling
volunteer opportunities for busy b’
nai mitzvah
students. Come once or come every month!
Brighten-Their-Day Bundles
Sunday, February 17, 2019 • 1-2:30pm
Paint a small canvas, make a fleece scarf and create a
set of conversation starter cards that friendly visitor
volunteers will share with JFS clients during one of
their visits.
Parcels for Patients
Sunday, March 24, 2019 • 1-2:30pm
Package traditional Purim goodies and craft Chemo Care
Kits to help keep community members occupied during
cancer treatment.
Soothing Sunday
Sunday, April 28, 2019 • 1-2:30pm
Learn about mental health and the services provided by
JFS. Create cards and homemade stress-relieving kits,
including silly putty, stress balls and journals, that JFS
therapists will share with teen clients.
Spring into Action
Sunday, May 19, 2019 • 1-2:30pm
Create and build planter boxes and other fun projects to
spruce up the homes of older adults in our community.
Register at jfsdetroit.org/becausewecare or
contact Erin Lederman at 248.880.3787 or
elederman@jfsdetroit.org.
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