Our History
- Founding Members (L-R) Steve Barth, Brooke Bradford and Brian Botsford
Conceived by childhood friends Brian Botsford, Brooke Bradford and Steve Barth, Crane River Theater Company was established around the belief that lifting up the arts will only help in creating a richer and more vibrant community. These three grew up together in Kearney and could be found performing all over town, however it was not until high school that they shared the stage together in the 1992 production of Annie. Since then they have been performing, teaching and directing theater across the country. Their friendship has inspired them to pool their experience creating a project that will benefit the community which brought them together in the first place. That inspiration combined with Kearney’s wealth of performance venues, available talent and amazing arts support is the basis of this exciting new company.
Barth currently lives in New York City where he has resided for the last six years acting and directing, Botsford lives in Wahoo, Nebraska where he is the vocal music instructor, assistant instrumental instructor and drama director at Bishop Neumann High School. Bradford lives in Kearney, where she and her husband own and operate Blue Media, a video production company based in Kearney since 2003.
The company was officially formed in 2009 under the not-for-profit umbrella of the prestigious Kearney Area Community Foundation. We launched our Explore Theater Series in association with Kearney Park and Recreation during that first summer with great success. We also held our first annual Benefit Gala at the Merryman Performing Arts Center in August with nearly 400 in attendance. At the start of 2010, Crane River Theater adopted a Board of Directors comprised of thirteen reputable individuals that allowed the company to officially take off. Budgets were formed and the 2010 Season and educational programs were set.
The inaugural summer season featured the musicals, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown and Godspell as well as our preseason Overture Dinner and the late season Gala events. All were met with unprecedented accolades. The 2011 summer featured Snoopy!!! and Little Shop of Horrors. And we were greeted with comparisons to national touring companies, Chicago, LA and even New York productions. 
In 2011 Crane River Theater Company added our acclaimed Christmas and Holiday Musical Celebration, Let It Snow. As we head into the summer of 2012, we are excited to launch our Play Series as a third production. The season will include the exuberant musical A Year with Frog and Toad based on the popular children’s books, the Broadway classic Into the Woods, and the powerful drama Two Rooms as our play.
As a new professional production company, Crane River Theater is constantly evolving and changing in an effort to expose a broader audience to the joys of live theater. We have learned a great deal in just a few short years, and always welcome the input of our patrons. If you have any suggestions or comments, please email us.