During the first few years of Jeremy's college career, although he was not a Theatre major, every spare moment he had was spent in Tyler Hall. Shannon Penrod ('84), who was teaching in the department at the time, said to him "Why in God's name aren't you a major? Follow your heart." Shannon's challenge made him reassess his college plan (he entered as an Education major with an Earth Science concentrate) and declare Theatre. He adds, with a smile "everything after that is her fault." Oswego audiences were privileged to see Jeremy in such productions as Jeffrey, The Boys Next Door, Our Country's Good, The Enchanted Pig and Room Service, to name just a few of his credits. Jeremy made the most of every opportunity that presented itself and honed his skills as an actor, singer, dancer and director. While an undergraduate, he performed in Carnival, My Favorite Year (Lakeside Dinner Theatre) and West Side Story. He was chosen to direct the 1996 Honor's Production of Craig Lucas' Reckless. This disquieting, offbeat comedy traces a character's journey from seeming domestic bliss through anxiety-ridden uncertainty to recognition that one can never really know another person. Jeremy's pursuit of the creative life with its share of uncertainty and chance has been rewarding and filled with his personal sense of direction. After graduation, he first worked in the Syracuse area, primarily in musical theatre. Selling vacuum cleaners and Pontiacs by day, gave him the freedom to rehearse such shows as La Cage Aux Folles (Cagelle) and The Music Man (Harold Hill) in the evenings. This post-graduate education helped to build his professional resume and, as he puts it, "prove that I was reliable and worth working with more than once." He also had the opportunity to work with many older actors with great experience. It was, he says, time well spent.

Through the NETC audition process, he was cast in the professional company of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire. There he had the opportunity to develop his improvisational, combat, and comedic skills, and live as an actor. The memory of that time, when he supported himself completely as an artist, is something that keeps him motivated, even today.

When the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire contract ended, Jeremy was faced with the decision that many actors face: New York or Los Angeles? He recalls: "At the time my resume pushed for New York, however, the alumni that I knew in Los Angeles seemed to be having a better time of it and were really excited about creating a community in LA." LA it was. Jeremy's gifts as a salesman and his ability to connect to youngsters through sports and play served him well on first arriving in California, or as he puts it: "I played with babies and sold cars in Los Angeles to make ends meet." He also acted and began to direct plays. Life plans often come in increments of five, but Jeremy had a three-year plan for himself. On arriving in LA he said "in three years I will be driving in the celebrity race at Long Beach." Of course, he adds slyly, that implied being a "Hollywood Celebrity." If this didn't happen he would retreat to a "normal life." This goal certainly reflects the automobile aficionado in Jeremy; and really, what's normal anyway? Jeremy is quick to add, "I am ten years in and just now have a shot at hitting my goal. I don't regret a minute."

In the past ten years he "produced, acted and directed at every opportunity," and created his own work for stage and film. He emphasizes the importance of "creating your own work. Do your best to not have to ask anyone's permission to create."

In addition to making opportunities to practice his craft as a creative artist, it has been important to Jeremy to find a day job that he loves; one that makes a difference. He has worked for several years for the City of Los Angeles as the Director of Lake Street Community Center. In 2004 Jeremy initiated the Theatre in Residence Program for the City of LA through his work at the Community Center. The program fostered partnerships with LA theatre companies and offered free three-year home locations at one of the city's recreation centers. Concerning the all important day job, Jeremy recommends: "Find what is worthy in whatever it is that you are doing. It will make you a better artist and a nicer person to work with."

Jeremy has found support and inspiration in the community of Oswego alumni in the LA area. He has continued to direct for the theatre, garnering an Outstanding Achievement in Directing at Santa Clarita Rep, with the assistance of Shannon Penrod. Danny Weiss ('94) was the lead actor in the production. His production of Fragments, written by John J. Garrett ('96) was a Recommended Pick by the LA Weekly. Fragments was Jeremy's full-length directorial debut in LA. He received multiple Backstage West Critics' Picks for his production of Durang's Make It a Double. Awards have followed him since his college years -- he received a Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Certificate of Merit for his direction of Reckless.

As Jeremy puts it, his first film project, Alter Ego was "littered with alumni." There was nothing messy, however, about this short film that he produced and directed. Written by Garrett, the eleven-minute film centers on the character impersonators who frequent the entrance of Grauman's Chinese Theatre and explores the personalities under the iconic images of Monroe, a Star Wars' Storm Trooper and the Hulk among others. The film was co-produced by Garrett, Andrew Miano ('95) Deanna Raphael (‘97) and Natascha Corrigan ('96). Featured in the cast were Stan Klimecko ('91), Garrett and Raphael. Corrigan wrote the theme song for the film, and played a small role. Alter Ego received a screening at the Los Angeles International Film Festival.

Jeremy's most recent directing project, Louis & Keely Live at the Sahara, has become a major critical success in LA. Produced at the Sacred Fools Theatre Company, this world premiere play with music dissects the tempestuous professional and private lives of Louis Prima and Keely Smith, the original Las Vegas lounge act. Written and performed by Vanessa Claire Smith and Jake Broder, the production has been celebrated as a Pick of the Week by LA Weekly and Critic's Pick by Backstage West. It received a front-page review in Variety and a feature article in the LA Times. Critics enthusiastically commended the performers and the onstage seven-piece band. Phil Gallo, in his Variety review wrote: "Jeremy Aldridge's direction is as compact and tight as the script, making good use of the entire performance space to isolate private moments on the sides and place the public lives front and center. " David Ng, in the LA Times hailed the production as "One of the best musicals playing in town....Jeremy Aldridge synthesizes it all into one shiny package. This is musical theater at its most rousing and entertaining. Go twice."

Originally playing for a limited run through June, Louis & Keely Live at the Sahara was extended to July 27. Jeremy, who is also an associate producer for the show, is of course ecstatic at the critical reception Louis & Keely has received. The extended run sold out in two days. The plans are, he relates, to schedule another run in LA for re-writes and polish followed by a New York production. Those of us on the east coast will then have an opportunity to see this "soaring new musical." Also connected with the production are JJ Mayes ('97) as Assistant Director and Associate Producer and Natascha Corrigan as Production Vocal Instructor and understudy for the role of Keely. Speaking about JJ Mayes' involvement as Assistant Director, Jeremy says, "My years of experience with JJ - - stretching back to SUNY Oswego - - made him my first choice."

Jeremy acknowledges that, "without the support of the Oswego Alumni community here in Los Angeles, it would have been much harder to create anything of quality. I started out with writers, actors, and choreographers that I knew and trusted. Our collective efforts continue to this day." He recently finished shooting a short film with Stan Klimecko. "Stan directed, wrote and starred in his own film. He was able to create opportunities for many alumni in that piece."

Jeremy directed one of the writer/stars of Louis & Keely in the 2005 production of Reckless in LA. It may just be that he's destined to direct that play about every ten years. For the record, he produced and acted in this second incarnation of Reckless. Also in the cast were Stan Klimecko, JJ Mayes, and Susan Biesinger ('98). It was an example of Jeremy's philosophy of creating his own work for himself and fellow alumni, instead of "asking permission." The project fostered an artistic relationship that led to Louis & Keely.

On his education at Oswego, Jeremy notes: "My experiences at Oswego were incredibly diverse. They prepared me perfectly to be an effective leader at my community center and the same in my artistic endeavors. The friendships I made with students and professors continue very strongly to this day. I am proud to be an alumnus of SUNY Oswego and grateful for the support I have from the alumni both here in Los Angeles and throughout the country."

In addition to having an agent at Don Buchwald and Associates and working for the City of Los Angeles as the Director of Lake Street Community Center (putting together the Opening Ceremonies for the 31^st Annual Lotus Festival), Jeremy, as director, will lead Louis & Keely to the next level. Jeremy expresses the feelings of many alumni when he talks about the strength of the training and the opportunities at Oswego. "We are all playing at higher levels all the time."

He recalls that Ron Medici, a member of the Acting/Directing faculty from 1979 to his retirement in 2001, created "great opportunity for me at Oswego. He taught me how to carry a show as an actor, gave me an eye for production design and fostered me as a director."

One of Jeremy's "bibles" is William Ball's superb book A Sense of Direction. In it, Ball makes this observation: "The actor feels compelled to bring light or illumination into life; he is a purveyor of light. That actor's big question is: ‘Where is the on-switch?' And the director, by helping the actor find the switch, gives the actor the one thing he wants - the power to bring light into the darkened room." We congratulate you on your work, Jeremy - - on knowing where the "on-switch" is, and we look forward to the future projects you help to illuminate.

-- Mark Cole