34west Theater Company

The Company It is our goal to provide quality classical and contemporary works which will stir the imagination and encourage the spirit. 34west's resident company of artists have performed professionally in venues from New York to Seattle. We seek to create exceptional family entertainment which will both encourage and enlighten. Come and experience all the excitement 34west has to offer by joining us at one of our upcoming productions.

	Stephen W Baldwin - Co-founder/Artistic Director E-Mail Steve holds a Bachelors in English from Youngstown State University. A native of California, he has performed in productions around the country including the off-Broadway premiere of John, His Story. He has written numerous produced works including Waiting for Joshua, Treasure on Christmas Island, the Perry Columbus Mystery Series, The 34west Christmas Show, Daniel and The Really Big Ugly Giant. He has also written programming for churches, schools, and overseas mission projects. Steve was a company member of the Houston-based A.D. Players, and subscriptions rep for the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. He has served as stage manager for the Great Lakes Theater Festival’s educational surround and has held internships with the Los Angeles-based studios of HBO and NBC. 34west credits include Abraham in Abraham & Sarah, Ash/Shadrach in Daniel, Caleb/Davis in Waiting for Joshua, Mr. Willow (et al.) in Treasure on Christmas Island, John (et al.) in John, His Story and as Uncle Andrew and Aslan in The Magician’s Nephew. Other theater credits include John, His Story (off-Broadway), Jim in The Glass Menagerie, Jesus in Cotton Patch Gospel, and The Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland (A.D. Players).

	Jeffrey D Querin - Co-founder/Artistic Director E-Mail Jeff holds a Masters in Educational Theater from NYU and a Bachelors in Theater and Marketing from Evangel University. He has performed for various theaters around the country including Great Lakes Theater Festival, Cleveland Public Theater, Houston’s A. D. Players, the Provincetown Playhouse in New York, Stages Repertory Theatre and the Indianapolis Repertory Theater. He has also directed classic and contemporary plays as well as implemented classroom drama for students in the US, London, and Ireland. Other theater credits include, Folktale Journey (Provincetown Playhouse), Procession of the Ghouls w/ Ralph Lee (Cathedral of St. John the Divine), Daniel/Meshach in Daniel, Joshua/James in Waiting for Joshua, Everyman, Matthew (et al.) in Cotton Patch Gospel, Blackbeard in Treasure on Christmas Island, John (et al.) in John, His Story, Digory in The Magician’s Nephew (34west), Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing (Cleveland Public Theater), Haman in The Crowning Glory, Ha-Ha in Joshua and the Ta Ra, Ta Raa, Ta Raaa and Demas in King of Proverbs (A.D. Players).

HISTORY The 34west Theater Company is a professional, non-profit theater dedicated to providing intergenerational audiences with quality classical and contemporary works which stir the imagination and encourage the spirit. From innovative original works to family-oriented plays to modern classics, 34west brings exceptional theater to the Mahoning Valley and beyond. Through the partnership of Youngstown-area resident Jeffrey Querin and native Californian Stephen Baldwin, 34west was born with a single work performed at a local church in the Mahoning Valley. Querin and Baldwin met while working and performing at the A.D. Players, a nationally renowned Christian theater company based in Houston. After moving to Youngstown, they produced and performed the gospel-centered play John, His Story, written by the A.D. Players Artistic Director Jeannette Clift George. The production featured two of the original off-Broadway cast members (Baldwin and Whitney Presley) and received an overwhelmingly favorable response. Following its success, the 34west Theater Company was established as a non-profit theater, its mission ‘to glorify God through professional theater and the arts.’ After a successful run of John, His Story, 34west went on to produce their second work, an adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ The Magician’s Nephew. With this production, 34west created a brand new facet to its company: student matinees. Over 800 local school children experienced the thrill of live theater as The Magician’s Nephew was brought to life. With the same professional standards and family spirit that characterize the regular season, 34west’s student matinees captivate young children with the magic of live theater and promote the power of the imagination. The first official season was launched in 2001. A varied repertoire of family oriented productions were met with notable success: Abraham and Sarah, Everyman, an original work entitled Treasure on Christmas Island, and The Little Prince. For this production, another student matinee was held, which premiered to over 1200 local school children. Each production is brought to life by 34west’s resident company of artists who have performed professionally in venues from New York to Seattle. A new era began in 2003 as 34west formed a partnership with Das Dutch Village Inn in Columbiana, Ohio and began producing regular seasons of musicals, biblically themed plays, original mysteries and Christmas shows. Under the continued guidance of artistic directors Querin and Baldwin, the audience base and repertory offerings steadily grew. In 2005, 34west received another offer of partnership with the Amish Door Restaurant and Village in Wilmot, Ohio. A brand new audience base was established by building a strong presence in the Canton/Akron areas. This second partnership, with its increase in bookings and seasonal repertory offerings, opened the door for new levels of artistic quality, financial stability, and audience growth. 34west’s role in the community continually develops. By offering professional, family oriented theater to places where theater is not typically accessible, generations young and old are able to develop a broader appreciation for the arts. 34west is seriously committed to the development of students through student matinees, drama camps and workshops that promote literacy. Each of these challenge the imagination and provide a stimulating environment to develop the intellect and discover new skills. Seven years ago, 34west performed solely in a local church. Now the company not only regularly tours its productions to churches, schools and outside organizations but also performs full, separate seasons of shows at two different venues. With this significant growth, 34west’s commitment to professional, family oriented theater remains strong. 34west anticipates another year of growth and success that brings hope, joy and laughter to all ages.