Carl Schurr has been associated with Totem Pole since 1975 when the later William H. Putch brought him to Caledonia State Park as a guest actor and director. Since the death of his mentor and predecessor in 1983, Mr. Schurr has been the Artistic Director of the Caledonia State Park professional summer theatre during which time he has directed well over 50 productions and appeared in nearly as many. The versatile actor has portrayed such diverse roles as Alan Squier in THE PETRIFIED FOREST to Oscar Madison in THE ODD COUPLE. His directing projects have run the gamut from OKLAHOMA! to THE MIRACLE WORKER and from SHIRLEY VALENTINE to THE BOYS NEXT DOOR.

In 1987, Mr. Schurr (Working with Associate Artistic Director, Wil Love) established the beloved local tradition of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, an extravagant adaptation of the Dickens' classic that introduces thousands of young people to the magic of live professional theatre.

Also, under his leadership, Mr. Schurr established two co-productions with Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia's prestigious regional stage. Professional area premieres of MOON OVER BUFFALO and THE LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO opened at Totem Pole and months later transferred to Philadelphia with the acting companies, sets, costumes and props intact. The impressive quality of the Totem Pole productions was highly applauded by the metropolitan audiences.

In the interest of not only protecting Totem Pole Playhouse but wanting it to grow, Mr. Schurr, with the support of local friends and theatre-goers, established Caledonia Theatre Company, a not-for-profit umbrella that protects the theatre, helps develop new projects, and seeks out financial support for the future. As a result, an endowment fund has been established and productions and special events has sponsorships available.

Regional theatre work has taken Mr. Schurr as an actor and director from coast to coast. His work has been seen at Baltimore's Center Stage, Buffalo's Studio Arena, Syracuse Stage, Rochester's GeVa Theatre, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Missouri Repertory Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville and Detroit's Meadow Brook Theatre. He has twice toured nationally with Jean Stapleton and made his Los Angeles debut in the west coast premier of Alan Ayckbourn's ABSENT FRIENDS. His musicals for young audiences have been produced by Center Stage, Actors Theatre of Louisville and Long Wharf Theatre.

Most recently he was featured in the Philadelphia premier of ART at Walnut Street Theatre and the critically acclaimed premiere of PROOF at Baltimore's Everyman Theatre-a production that was remounted during the 2005 Totem Pole Playhouse season.

A graduate of the University of Michigan Department of Speech and Theatre, Mr. Schurr was a college teacher and director before entering the professional theatre. He considers beautiful Caledonia to be his summer home.