Getting to Know Drew Durrant of Yellowstone Playhouse
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EastIdahoNews.com is highlighting hardworking people who make our local businesses a success. Every Sunday, we’re Getting to Know YOU!
1. Name and Job Title: Andrew “Drew” Durrant Owner, Yellowstone Playhouse in beautiful Island Park, Idaho.
2. What do you do in your position? I am the managing partner of our two theater locations. In addition to the day-to-day operations of the playhouses, I write, direct, and act in our family-friendly musical spoofs.
3. Where were you born and when is your birthday? Born and raised in West Jordan, Utah. June 28.
4. How long have you lived in eastern Idaho and what city do you live in now? Moved to Rexburg, Idaho to attend BYU-Idaho in the fall of 2002. Lived in eastern Idaho full-time from 2002 to 2012. Since 2015, we have enjoyed our summers working in Island Park.
5. Tell us about your first job after high school or college. I was hired as the Box Office Manager at Mystique Dinner Theater in 2006 as I graduated college. I was responsible for directing and performing in the shows in addition to managing the box office and restaurant.
6. What is the best business decision you’ve ever made? Sticking my neck out there when I asked to partner with the owner of Mack’s Inn Resort and lease the theater space at Mack’s Inn Resort in 2007. My grandfather was instrumental in teaching me to “always throw my hat in the ring” regardless of how ready (or unready) I felt.
7. Tell us about your family. My wife Julie and I have three wonderful kids. Julie and I met in Pocatello during a production of “Footloose”. Elliana is 12 years old and was born at the tail end of our first season running Mack’s Inn Playhouse. We brought her home from the hospital to Island Park. Sterling is our 2nd child and is 9 years old. He is the most active kid I know. He wakes up asking, “What are we going to do for fun
today?” and goes to sleep asking “What are we going to do for fun tomorrow?” Milla is our 3rd child and is 3 years old. She loves to join the cast on stage whenever she can to sing our final song each night. She is sunshine.
8. Tell us about a movie or book that has inspired you the most in life. My favorite film in the history of ever is “Life Is Beautiful.” Wonderful lesson in there of seeing the positive and sacrificing to bring others joy even in your darkest moments. If you haven’t watched it, you must. And watch the original version with the captions on.
9. Tell us about a lesson you learned from a mistake you made in your career. Biggest lesson I have learned is “don’t try to please everyone.” For many years I tried to be the answer for everyone. Some people may not appreciate what you do but time and energy are better spent focusing on taking care of the people who do. The times we have “failed” our businesses have been the times when we surrendered, either consciously or unconsciously, to the whims and motives of other people.
10. What is the goal you hope to accomplish in the next 12 months? Organize! In theater, you accumulate A LOT of costumes, props, set pieces, wigs, etc. With two locations the issue is doubled. We have begun the process of organizing and cataloging everything we have so we can utilize it better.
11. What is one piece of advice you have for someone who wants to do what you’re doing? Don’t try to be someone else. Offer what makes you unique and try to surround yourself with people who have pure motives. If you give people what they want at a fair price, you will be successful.
12. If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently? If I could do it all over again I would try for more balance in the journey. And I would read more books about managing and understanding people.
13. Where is your favorite place to eat in eastern Idaho? Ponds Lodge. Consistently amazing. If you haven’t tried and enjoyed their fish and chips, Papi Karl burger, or Sweet Pork Poutine, you might be a Communist.
14. Tell us something surprising about yourself. I am an avid sleepwalker. I sleepwalk almost nightly and have since I was 15 years old. I would write a coffee table book on my nightly escapades but would be accused of fiction.
15. How do you like your potatoes? Hand cut fries with Chiz’s Ranch.
If you have an employee or co-worker who we should get to know, email neaton@eastidahonews.com.