Monday Profile: Garrett Torbert Founds Group to Create Opportunity in the Performing Arts

Garrett Torbert

Moving to the area, Garrett Torbert often heard about the lack of performing opportunities available for children.

The Columbus resident and Mississippi State University instructor decided to do something about it by creating the Golden Triangle Theater in June 2021. His first classes started in August.

In his role as executive and artistic director of the Golden Triangle Theatre, the founder of the non-profit organization is a teacher, singer, director and collaborative pianist.

Torbert is no stranger to the performing arts. Alongside his teaching experience, Torbert is an active performer in opera, oratorio and recital. He made his professional operatic debut with Mobile, Alabama Opera in Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah and additional roles with Opera Mobile include Trin in La Fanciulla del West and Yakuside in Madama Butterfly. Other roles include Colonel Johnson in the world premiere of Freedom and Fire! by Amir Zaheri! A Civil War Story, Fenton in Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor (The Merry Wives of Windsor) and Kaspar in Amahl and the Night Visitors. He was featured soloist with the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra and the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra in Mozart’s Requiem and Handel’s Messiah.

The Golden Triangle Theater was born out of a vision to see art and culture become a more important part of the community, especially for children living in the area, Torbert said. Her motto is “Inspire. To feed. Carry out.”

“I had privately taught piano and singing to children in the community and parents were inquiring about performance opportunities for their children and there really wasn’t really an option,” he said. about his decision to form the band. “Essentially, I saw a need and went for it.”

Garrett Torbert of Columbus teaches children during Young Actors Studio, a class offered by the Golden Triangle Theater in the fall. He is the executive and artistic director of the theatre. Courtesy picture

The theater’s programming includes classes, private lessons and a season of performances. So far, the organization has presented the one-act opera “Amahl and the Night Visitors” and “Do We Have to Grow Up?” which was carried out as the culmination of the efforts of theater classes for children from 7 to 18 years old.

“We are bringing a junior production of Beauty and the Beast to our children’s theater this spring,” Torbert said. “Because of such great interest, our class is full, which is a real blessing.”

Additionally, they offer MainStage production for adults. The Theater Academy production of “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Jr.” is scheduled for May 6-8. The MainStage production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance” will take place April 22-24.

You don’t have to be an aspiring actor to join the Golden Triangle Theatre. Torbert said they welcome anyone interested in participating in the show, whether on or off stage.

“We are currently looking for volunteers who want to help with set construction, costume making and other areas of the theatre,” he said.

Golden Triangle Theater operates as a non-profit organization with a board of directors. In addition to Torbert, the staff includes Tennille Koulainen, Associate Theater Manager, and Payton Tanner, Assistant Theater Manager.

Koulainen is a high school performing arts teacher at Columbus Christian Academy. Tanner is a Mississippi State graduate in vocal performance and is currently studying music therapy at Mississippi University for Women.

Those who work with the theater are excited about its future, Torbert said.

“We are extremely excited for the Golden Triangle Theater to become an integral part of the community as a leading professional company in Mississippi and the Golden Triangle providing arts, culture and entertainment. to our region,” he said.

To learn more about the Golden Triangle Theatre, visit its Facebook or Instagram accounts or its website, goldentriangletheatre.com.

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