Well it all started July 24 1964. I was brought into this world at St. Mary’s Hospital in Green Bay Wisconsin, and my family’s world would never be the same. My two brothers came into the family soon after; Michael, June 8th 1965, and Heath, December 18th 1969. (Heath was suppose to be the girl in the family I guess that’s why he’s a drummer) my Mom (Karen) and Dad (Frank) were destined for three large boys. Oh did I say large, together we are 850 lbs. Let’s just say we like to eat. Dad (Frank) was a union electrician, now retired, who usually worked at nuclear plants during, shut downs, (Probably explains how large we all are, and Mike’s third nipple). My mom (Karen) is a Saint. That is the best way I can explain her. She taught us all to be god fearing good people with solid morals and common sense, (I owe all my talent to this woman, you ought to hear her sing!). Anyway, our gregarious personalities are due to the many places we lived and went to school throughout our adolescence. Dad seemed to go the weirdest places to work. Fort Lauderdale, FL, Mears, MI, Pleasant Plains, AK, were a few, but we always seemed to come back to N. E. WI. The Kewanee Nuke plant always seemed to want my dad back to work. So, going to eight different schools, in four different states was pretty neat.
I graduated High School at Preble High, right here in ole Green Bay 1982. I attended UWGB as a theater major, and later changed to communications. Since then I’ve run nightclubs in Columbia, MO. , and Chicago, IL. I opened the first comedy club in Green Bay (Doc’s Comedy Club). I was a car salesman (Vanboxtel Ford) and a salesman for WFRV channel 5. Later I became a partner in the Sports Corner in DePere and also the SC Grand. Now all I do is own and operate "Let me be Frank Productions". Yes, I do have a dream job. I get up everyday and do what I love to do, and make a living out of it.
I first got involved in theater in middle school and then later in high school. I lost track of theater, trying to further my career, in my twenties. Then in 1994 I saw that St. Norbert was having auditions for "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat". I wanted the role of Joseph so badly. Myself, Joe Kiedinger (whom you’ll meet later) and Paul Desperito were called back for the lead role of Joseph. I was so excited, but being 6’3" 240# I probably was not going to get the part. I did get the part however of "Reuben" the eldest brother. It was probably the most influential time in my life. First, I found out that I love doing this theater stuff, second, I met some of the most influential people in my life at that time. Joe Kiedinger, and the Birders (who run St. Norbert summer music theater).
Back to my good friend Joe Kiedinger; I called him one day and asked him to start a dinner theater troupe with me (Frank’s Dinner Theater). Of course he did not hesitate. We called all our old friends from St. Norbert, UWGB and all our other acting friends. Most of them joined and are still with Let me be Franks today (Amy Riemer Kruk, Pat Hibbard, Tom Verbrick, Maggie McGinn, Heath Hermans, Paul Evansen, Dennis Panneck, Tony Pilz, Suzan Sherman). Joe and I started writing review shows, the first one on a couple of bar napkins. Joe Kiendinger has gone on to become a very successful ad agency owner. He has some of the biggest accounts in the market. Joe if you ever read this: I love you man and would die for you. You help found one of the premier theater troupes in the country. Thank you. Since then our writing has gotten more involved. No longer are we just doing review shows. Now we are actually writing stories with, of course, the music as a huge focus. The future is so bright for Let me be Frank Productions. Our move to the Historic Meyer Theatre in Green Bay only solidifies our place in the theater history of North Eastern WI. I’ve been very blessed to have so many people believe in us and support what we do.
My family has been behind me from the start. Some day you might see my kids on stage: Joshua 20, Austin 13, Blake 10, and Katrina 8. They seem to have their father’s genes and knack for the stage. Any other information you would like to know about me or the theater please e-mail me at: frank@letmebefranks. com. Thanks for watching and listening to Let me be Frank Productions. We hope to continue to entertain you for many years to come!
