With a career that spans from Broadway tours to Baltimore classics, director Todd Pearthree brings a deep well of theatrical experience—and a signature sense of storytelling—to every production he touches. This season, he turns his attention to Bad Seed, crafting suspense with precision and a playful nod to melodrama. A long-time collaborator at Cockpit in Court since its earliest days, Todd’s directing and choreography credits read like a love letter to musical theatre and drama alike. Now, with Bad Seed, he’s once again digging into something deliciously dark—and audiences are in for a thrill.
Todd Pearthree
Director for Bad Seed Todd Pearthree first collaborated with Cockpit in its 3rd season as the choreographer for GiGi, working alongside founders F. Scott Black and Bob Stoltzfus. He continued staging dances for Godspell, Gypsy, Showboat, West Side Story, Finian’s Rainbow, and served as Director/Choreographer for productions including The Sound of Music, Pippin, Mack & Mabel, Side by Side by Sondheim, How to Succeed, They’re Playing Our Song, A Chorus Line, Annie Get Your Gun, Mame, Amadeus, Angel Street, and Disaster!
At 19, Todd took over the Drama and Speech Department at Friends School, and staged the first two musicals ever produced by the Vagabonds: Finian’s Rainbow and Damn Yankees. At Spotlighters Theatre, he mounted Applause, Cabaret, Agnes of God, Night of the Iguana, The Apple Tree, Minnie’s Boys, Summertree, On a Clear Day, and Anything Goes for his own theatre company.
In New York City, Todd served as Assistant General Manager, Publicity Director, and Grant Manager for the Light Opera of Manhattan, an Off-Broadway company specializing in Gilbert & Sullivan and light opera. He directed and choreographed Off-Broadway’s 5 After 8, Hello, Dolly! at Chateau DeVille in Boston, and Carousel at Pinewood in South Carolina. He also performed for nine months in the national bus & truck tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, beginning as a priest and finishing as Pilate.
Todd was Artistic Director at Limestone Dinner Theatre, staging eight productions including Chicago, Annie, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and the first U.S. production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers after its Broadway run. As Artistic Director of White Marsh Dinner Theatre, he staged My One and Only, 42nd Street, Barbyn, Singin’ in the Rain, Bye Bye Birdie, Follies, and six additional shows. He also spent two years as resident director at Virginia’s West End Dinner Theatre, and directed/choreographed for the Colony 7, Petrucci’s, Harlequin, and Towsontown Dinner Theatres.
Summer stock credits include Peter Pan, I Love My Wife, and The Pirates of Penzance at Gateway Playhouse; Hello, Dolly! at Woodstock Playhouse; 9 to 5 at Stagedoor Manor; and Unsung Cole at Lycoming College.
As Producer/Director for Pumpkin Theatre for nine years, Todd directed 32 productions, closing out his tenure with a remarkable 96.4% capacity for MainStage shows. He spent 15 years with Theatre Hopkins staging acclaimed productions such as Anyone Can Whistle, A Little Night Music, Drood, She Loves Me!, Candide, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, and The Wild Party.
For the Maryland Arts Festival, he directed Ragtime, The Wizard of Oz, Grease, and Gypsy. With the Musical Theatre Machine, he directed and choreographed Grand Hotel, A Streetcar Named Desire, Into the Woods, and Sweeney Todd—the last two earning him “Best Director/Choreographer” honors from Judy Rousuck and The Baltimore Sun.
Academically, Todd has served as adjunct professor at the Peabody Conservatory, lectured at Loyola College and Towson University, and taught and directed for Gilman School, Notre Dame Prep, and currently, Boys’ Latin School.
His accolades include Broadway World’s Best Production for Ragtime, Gypsy (Maryland Arts Festival—also Best Director, Leading Actress, Leading Actor, and Supporting Actress), and Chicago (Theatre Hopkins). City Paper honored Candide, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, and Putting It Together (all at Theatre Hopkins) as Best Productions.
See Bad Seed June 13 – 29 at CCBC Essex, Robert and Eleanor Romadka College Center, Cabaret Theatre
Tickets: $18 Adults | $16 Seniors (60+)
Box Office: 443-840-ARTS or www.ccbctickets.com
***PLEASE AVOID ticket scams by only purchasing through our website, not through an unknown third party.***.
Performances:
June 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28 at 8 p.m.
June 15, 22, 29 at 3 p.m.
Bad Seed is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. www.dramatists.com