Meet Larry Brechner

We recently connected with Larry Brechner and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Larry with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

Both my parents were very hard working, dedicated to their work and interests. From their example I always showed up on time and ready to work whatever the task. In my career as a theater and stage director and facility manager as well as my other endeavors, I am very self-motivated. I developed my own mantra: Only promise what you can deliver – but always deliver what you promise. This avoids the trap of overpromising and under-delivering that often happen in the arts fields. This work ethic should not be interpreted that you do not strive to achieve the very best, but always be aware of your own resources and limitations.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

With over 40 years of professional and educational theatrical experience, Larry “LAB” retired in 2016 as the Auditorium/Theater Company Producer Director (administrator) for the School Town of Munster. He previously worked as the Theatre Administrator for The Center for Visual and Performing Arts, including as the Production Manager/Resident Lighting Designer for The Center’s resident professional Equity theater for six years. Larry also served as the Auditorium Director and Producer/Director for the Highland Theatre Company for 13 years at Highland’s Monbeck Auditorium

Over his entire career, Larry has produced/directed a total of 230 theatrical productions (mostly musicals), and as Auditorium Director/Lighting Designer he has done 300 professional/community concert events and over 1000 school concert/events.

You can hear Larry every week discussing arts and art events on the award winning radio show/podcast, ART ON THE AIR every Sunday at 7pm CT on Lakeshore Public Media 89.1FM also streaming worldwide, and Friday on – WVLP 103.1FM Valparaiso, Indiana at 11am CT streaming at WVLP.org, rebroadcast on Monday at 5pm CT. Current, previous, and some future shows may be heard/downloaded as podcasts at Lakeshore Public Media 89.1FM, NPR, and at brech.com/aota. He served as TV host of Eye On The Arts series October-December 2020.

In 2016, Larry was inducted into the Indiana Thespian Hall of Fame recognizing his over 31 years as an outstanding theater educator/director. In 2010 Purdue University Calumet honored him with the Alumni Leadership Award recognizing outstanding alumni from various fields of study, and in 1997 with the Distinguished Corporate/Community Service Award. He is a life-time Voting Member for the Grammy Awards since 1980

In 2007, Larry earned his Doctor of Fine Arts in Theatre Studies, and his Masters and Bachelors degrees are in Broadcast Communications from Purdue University Calumet (now Purdue University Northwest). He served for 10 years as an adjunct professor for Calumet College and as has served as a Guest Lecturer for Purdue Northwest in Westville.

Larry is a recognized fine art photographer with numerous exhibits and awards to his credit. His artistic photography work is mostly in landscapes, scenic, nature, wildlife, still life, buildings, nautical themes,

Larry is an instrument-rated commercial pilot, drone pilot, a Life-time Voting Member for the Grammy Awards since 1980 from his days of owning a small recording studio. Larry currently serves on art or media association boards including: Chesterton Art Center, WVLP, Regional Arts Council, and as board chair for Lakeshore Public Media (TV/Radio) also serving there as an on-air TV/Radio pledge host since 1993.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1 – Be the “eternal student” always ready to learn new things – master multiple disciplines.

2 – Treat everyone with kindness and respect – The Golden Rule.

3- Make no unnecessary enemies – while it is inevitable that there will be a clash of personalities along your journey, and you will have to deal with that situation and stand up for yourself, do not find your way into avoidable conflicts with others.

Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?

You might say I am already on the “back nine” of life, so while I hope to have more than a decade left, I embrace my new found post-retirement endeavors. I actively serve on several boards for an art center, an arts council, and as current board chair for a local NPR/PBS station – having served as a pledge host for over 34 years there. I produce an hour-long radio show every week for the past seven years (ART ON THE AIR) where I have usually three guests per show.

With everything I am doing, my wife says that, “I have failed retirement.”

However, I take my philosophy of living from the musical, “PIPPIN,” where the grandma character, Berthe, tells her grandson Pippin, who is seeking the meaning of life in this song lyric:
“I Believe if I Refuse to Grow Old, I Will Stay Young ’til I Die.”

So I guess I am too busy actually spending my time just being productive.

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