About Lewis

Although Lewis’ forty-year career in theatre has been as a Director and Producer, his involvement with Musical Theatre Guild began as a fan and as a ticket-buyer. In 2002, he was invited to direct MTG’s first show in the Alex Theatre, ALLEGRO. He has since been asked back to direct a dozen more productions, including IT’S A BIRD, IT’S A PLANE, IT’S SUPERMAN!, FADE OUT FADE IN, DO RE MI, GIRL CRAZY, THE PAJAMA GAME, HIGH SOCIETY, and MAME. He joined the Board of Directors in 2016, created MTG’s Marketing Committee, launched the Alex Theatre Resident Companies Committee, and recently directed MTG’s online concert fundraiser, STEPHANIE J. BLOCK COMES HOME. Lewis has directed over sixty plays and musicals across the country, has collaborated with writers on the development of new musicals, and is a popular guest speaker/educator in schools and workshops, with a specific emphasis on educating, advising, and inspiring new generations of artists in the performing arts. He recently concluded a ten-year tenure as Artistic Director of Cabrillo Music Theatre (now 5-Star Theatricals) in Thousand Oaks, overseeing 45 productions and numerous community outreach programs. During Lewis’ leadership, Cabrillo Music Theatre has launched the careers of hundreds of young theatre artists, has achieved nationwide recognition, has been recognized by the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle with the Joel Hirschhorn Award for Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre, and has been rewarded with 49 Ovation Award nominations and eight wins. Lewis was recognized for his work with Cabrillo, and in the community, with a Commendation of Honor from the City of Thousand Oaks, and the Conejo Players Theatre Civic Advocate Award. He has directed for Musical Theatre West, McCoy-Rigby Entertainment, International City Theatre, Theatre Under the Stars (Houston, TX), Moonlight Amphitheatre, Phoenix Theatre, Utah Musical Theatre, and six productions for the Lawrence Welk Resort Theatre. Lewis serves as a judge each year, alongside Kenny Ortega, Cathy Rigby and others, for the Jerry Herman Awards, which acknowledge excellence in performance in high schools across the region. He also serves as an advisor for MUSE (Musicians United for Social Equality), and consults with other organizations and theatre companies, in order to increase diversity and inclusivity among positions of leadership in the Arts. Lewis’ finest “productions” are the two he shares with his wife, Serena: daughter Melody and son Jesse.