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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