John Miller
Technical Director
Behind the Scenes
Behind the Scenes highlights the backstage activity and the people who play a vital role in every performance at the Reif Center. From technical preparation to set construction, each production relies on the work happening behind the curtain.
Reif Renovations: Part 1 – How It Began – April 2026
In construction, we don’t just work with concrete and steel, but with hope and dreams. – Jackie “The Jackhammer” Jackson On April 29th, 2016 the Reif Center reopened after…
P. U. P. P. E. T. – March 2026
(Professional Utilization of Puppetry for Performance and Entertainment Techniques) I am Oz, the Great and Terrible! – L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Here we go again! I’ve lost…
Do you want to know a secret? Do you promise not to tell? -The Beatles, 1963 Everyone loves to be in on the secret! Today, I’ll pull back the curtain…
Rief Dance: The Nut Cracker – December 2025
I know what you’re thinking, it’s December and time for that same old Nutcracker show again! Honestly, I feel the same way! The Nutcracker was my very first production at…
Reif Theater Arts: Disney’s The Lion King JR. – November 2025
No one sets out to make a bad movie. No one sets out to make a classic movie. Somewhere during development, filming, editing and marketing a film can go either…
MORE Theater Ghosts and Superstitions! – October 2025
It’s my favorite season again, and no it’s not Pumpkin Spice! It’s time for autumn and Halloween! Last year I had fun researching theater superstitions and spooky theater ghost stories,…
The Reif: 45 Years of Community Support! – September 2025
In nearly 30 years of working at the Reif Center I’ve witnessed the extraordinary support the Grand Rapids community has for the arts and culture in northern Minnesota. Here are…
Hairball: By the Numbers! – June 2025
No, it’s not the next winning Powerball numbers, but if they are, I want a cut! It’s Hairball by the numbers! ㉕ We got lucky! Hairball was originally scheduled for…
Spring Dance – Hansel and Gretel: A Grimm Tale! – May 2025
It’s not often that a Wikipedia entry offers these related subjects to explore, “Gingerbread House” and “Child Cannibalism.” But, when the Reif Dance Spring Production is Hansel and Gretel: A…