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Kevin Dietzel is mild-mannered in a Clark Kent sort of way. You would never suspect that he was a lance corporal in the Marines, where he served as a radio repair technician in the Al Anbar province of Iraq. He received a Humanitarian Service Medal for actions following the 2006 landslide in the Leyte region of the Philippines. The Marine Corps taught him to think on his feet, he says, and with as many moving parts as there are at Piedmont Players, that experience will come in handy. “Improvise, adapt, overcome,” Dietzel says with a smile.

His superpower is problem-solving, which was exactly what Piedmont Players was searching for in a managing director. He comes to Salisbury from Southern Pines, where he served as the executive director of Sunrise Theater, a space for not only live theater but also for concerts and films. He came to Sunrise young, to work as a part-time projectionist.

“I got the job when I was planning to go to pharmacy school,” Dietzel said. “I loved it so much, I stayed.”

In the course of his time there, he worked his way up, year by year, to the top-level position. One of his biggest challenges was leading the Sunrise through the pandemic, which he did safely and successfully. 

When not problem-solving, Dietzel hits the gym. He’s proud of his work there, too.

“Forty-five days and counting,” he said.

At home on the weekends, he and his wife, Jessie, enjoy playing Dungeons and Dragons. Jessie also directs plays.

“Theater is a family thing for us,” he said. Their son, Elliot, 13, has been in some shows and has recently formed a rap group with friends. And while Dietzel himself is comfortable on stage, he does not plan on seeking the limelight any time soon.

“I’m going to be too busy for that,” he said, adding, “Maybe someday.”

One of his primary duties as managing director is putting together a creative team for each production at both the Meroney and the Norvell — 10 shows a year. With a musical, for example, Dietzel will find a director, a music director, a choreographer, a set designer, a lighting and sound designer and a stage manager. He does not have a hand in casting the shows. That’s the director’s job. Perhaps, his biggest challenge at Piedmont Players, he says, is revamping the fundraising.

“Everyone here has been so welcoming,” he said.

Salisbury feels like the right fit, with its vibrant downtown and Southern hospitality. He hasn’t had time to shop for a house yet. He hit the ground running the last week of August, even though his official start day at Piedmont Players was Sept. 2. Things are already underway there for the 2024-25 season, which opens in the Norvell with Aladdin Jr., on Sept. 20 and The Music Man in the Meroney on Oct. 18. Find out more about what Dietzel is up to behind the scenes at www.piedmontplayers.com.