Carey Crockett is the co-founder and artistic director of Unicorn Theatre and has been producing, directing, designing, and acting on the Monterey Peninsula for many years. Unicorn Theatre has been at The Hoffman Playhouse in New Monterey since 1994, and its doors open to a bustling creative world -- always surprising the people on the Peninsula with its varied offerings.

Carey grew up in Carmel Valley. The first school he attended was Tularcitos Elementary School. He became aware of theatre at an early age. He remembers being less than six years old and seeing a "summer company" troupe of actors in Carmel Valley who did mostly musicals. In the 7th and 8th grades he attended Palo Colorado School -- a one-room school with students in grades 1 through 8.

Carey describes some of the influential people of his early years. One is Nancy Buttero, his teacher at Palo Colorado School. The students had to write a theme every week. It was there that he developed his writing skills . Nancy suggested he attend Children's Experimental Theatre which he did beginning at age 13. To Marcia Hovick he attributes his sense of history and a basic theatre training in the classics. He describes his days at CET, "I'd get there for the class before mine, then go to my class, and then watch Marcia direct the Spring Play rehearsals until 5:00. When I was 15 years old I designed my first set there -- the Traveling Troupe LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD." At CET he met Bill Lewis, the CET/Staff Players tech-person from 1965 to 1980. From Bill he learned about set construction and the use of color on stage.

Another early influence was Travis Heath, a Salinas sign-painter. Carey was 12 years old, and he had convinced a store owner in Salinas that he could paint a rodeo picture on the window. A police officer came by and asked to see his license. So Carey went to Travis and asked if he could work under his sign-painting license. From Travis he learned about sign-painting and a sense of political awareness.

CAREY CROCKETT

Carey attended Monterey Peninsula College, majoring in drama. He then moved to Seattle and attended the Burnley School of Professional Art, studying graphic design. He also received theatre training from Earl Kelly in private classes at the Seattle Center. Among other things from Earl, he learned "The Always and Never Rule" which Carey explains as "Always do it this way unless you don't." He continues, "Most sets of rules are tried and true but there are always exceptions that break the rules and may lead to another breakthrough." Carey likes to pass The Always and Never Rule on to his students.

While in Seattle, Carey worked for The Piccoli Theatre, a theatre for children ages 3 - 7. He would design sets and act in the shows. It was the first time he was paid to do theatre. At the same time he designed posters, flyers, logos, and promotional material for the Seattle Opera, Seattle Repertory Theatre, ACT, and The Empty Space Theatre. He also was a courtroom illustrator for about three years for ABC.

In 1980 Carey decided to return to the Monterey Peninsula. He rejoined Children's Experimental Theatre and Staff Players, this time as part of the CETA program, a government funded support for the arts. As in the past, he would act, design sets, and do other technical support. In 1983 Carey and Max Robert formed Unicorn Theatre. Their repertory included new dramatic works, new adaptations of classic literary works, and dramatic works already in the public domain. The first two seasons were produced under the non-profit umbrella of the Carl Cherry Foundation. One of the productions was Max Robert's fanciful musical hit THE SECRET LIVES OF TEDDY BEARS. Max went on to write two seasons of the television show "Pee Wee's Playhouse" before his death in 1990 from AIDS. In 1994 Unicorn moved to its current home The Hoffman Playhouse and received its non-profit status in 1995 after twelve years in existence. It now has three venues -- The Mainstage, Family Fantasy Theatre (which produces classic children's stories) and Second Stage for off nights offering a venue for developing talents.

Unicorn Theatre on Hoffman always seems a very busy place, with people of all ages performing a variety of tasks as actors, tech-persons, set designers, playwrights, directors, box office personnel -- whatever needs to be done. Carey describes the theatre: "Unicorn offers opportunities -- for writers to be produced, directors to have a chance, and actors to take challenges. Unicorn is open and receptive to the possibility that any spirit who walks through the door can make a place for themselves. I'm proud of my part in creating that possibility. We must all attempt to live by a higher standard or we will not progress as artists or human beings."

Jeff McGrath and Carey Crockett in I HATE HAMLET