Meet Doug Kreeger | Multi-Hyphenate Creative Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Doug Kreeger and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Doug, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
When I last spoke with ShoutoutLA a year and a half ago, I explained that I had reframed “risk-taking” as “taking a leap-of-faith,” and I felt sure that no matter how large the leap, I would always land on my feet thanks to my support system. Well since then, I’ve taken some major leaps, starting with the decision to close my pet care business PetProGo in April and to enroll in a Masters of Fine Arts program at Loyola Marymount University here in LA. Working in many facets of the performing arts over the years has confirmed that my primary passion is and will always be theatre. I wanted to acknowledge and honor this by absorbing myself fully in a graduate program that would not only provide future job opportunities in academia, but would also surround me with a community of creative artists committed to celebrating the arts and imparting their knowledge and experience to the next generation. I’m very excited about the prospect of further deepening my relationship with creativity and ultimately mastering my vocation. When it comes to a work life balance, I’m committed to further blurring the line that separates the two by only pursuing work within my vocation which fulfills me creatively. Even if my only legacy is a lifelong dedication to the theatre, then I can be proud of a life well-lived. If I had to create a logline for my life: “Lover of theatre, dogs, sunshine, compassion, and sweets, Doug made his mark in theatre and ultimately fostered a deep passion for the performing arts in future generations of artists.”

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I love being in a room with artists and collaborating to create a piece of theatre. There is no greater fire in my belly than the flame that burns for this process. My lifelong dedication to theatre is evident in my resume, an onstage career that spans from community theatre in my hometown of Honolulu to Broadway & Carnegie Hall. Over the past few years, my involvement in theatre has expanded to include experience not just as a performer, but also as a Book-Writer, Lyricist, Production Stage Manager, Resident Director, & Dance Captain. I was also a Contract Associate at Actors’ Equity Association, and I’ve been an Equity Deputy on numerous shows. I mention this not just to demonstrate my experience in theatre, but also because this journey from Performative to Creative & Production to Administration (and back again) has expanded my own personal vision of how my place in the Arts will continue to evolve. I’ve spent the last six months in the MFA program redefining and expanding the definition of creativity for myself. When I was a full-time Broadway actor in New York City, these terms were simply defined: My agent got me an audition, I then I did my “artist thing” and booked the job (or didn’t). If I booked it then the real fun started, by crafting a character in rehearsals, shepherding that character to opening night, and then sustaining that character for the remainder of the run. Now I understand that my creative abilities are much greater than my previous, narrow definition. In fact, my entire life can be one that accesses, demonstrates, and celebrates creativity in all of its infinite forms.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
In the summer of 2021, my dog and I moved down from our pandemic mountain getaway in Lake Arrowhead to a quiet, sunny 2br bungalow in Burbank, across the street from a park and a pool, and we’re loving it. I’m currently obsessed with Porto’s, right around the corner from me. This family-owned business with multiple locations has become a Los Angeles staple, and the crowds prove this true. The Cuban-inspired menu is delicious and affordable, and you can’t go wrong with the Cuban sandwich and any of their baked goods. Then I’d probably take my friend to burn off the calories by swimming some laps at the Verdugo Aquatic Facility, and then walk around the neighboring Verdugo Park watching the dogs play. We’d definitely have to do some vintage shopping at the many incredible stores on Magnolia Boulevard, and a special treat of the visit would be the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, which is just a few minutes from my new place.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to dedicate this Shoutout to my parents, Richard and Joan Kreeger. My dad just passed away this year, and since his death I have become even more aware of how similar we are/were. He was theatrical in his own way, he loved “dad jokes,” and as he got older he enjoyed sharing insights from his life with those he loved, thereby helping them along on their own journey. Dad was also not easily satisfied, which not only served to push him forward in life but also provided him with some existential crises, a dynamic which also sounds like me. As for my mom, she not only instilled in me a love of theatre, but she has always gone out of her way to provide the platforms and means to help me grow, succeed, and achieve in every way possible, in and out of the Arts. I try to tell her not to worry about me so much, but she says that’s just part of being a mom. I’m very thankful for her support.

Website: dougkreeger.com

Instagram: instagram.com/dougkreeger/

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/dougkreeger/

Image Credits
STLZ Photos, Lily Lim, Abel Armas