THE BARN THEATRE (MONTVILLE NJ) – It is with great sadness that we share news of the passing of our friend and collaborator, Warren Helms.

Warren was a gifted teacher and a brilliant – a TRULY brilliant – musician. And quite simply, he was one of the best musical directors you could ever hope to work with. His talents at the piano spanned so many different genres of music: classical, opera, jazz, big band, musical theatre, and so much more; he was equally as gifted at all of them. He played for the likes of Aretha Franklin, Susan Boyle, Clay Aiken… he played on Broadway… he taught at Manhattan School of Music, Julliard, and William Paterson College… and to our great fortune, he played for and with us here at The Barn Theatre, and we are a better community theatre because of him.

Warren first came to The Barn as Musical Director of our 1998 production of “Man of La Mancha” and since then was MD for an incredible 15 of our mainstage productions, along with numerous big band and Valentine’s Day cabaret special events. Among his many Musical Director credits at The Barn were shows like “A Little Night Music”, “City of Angels”, “Once of This Island”, “Most Happy Fella”, “Kiss Me Kate”, Jekyll & Hyde”, “Cabaret”, and the New Jersey community theatre premier production of “Ragtime.” The pit orchestras that Warren assembled and led were among the best in the land, and that is not just hyperbole. If you were appearing in a Barn musical and Warren was your MD, you could be assured that you were going to be singing in front of one of the best pit orchestras you could hope to hear. And you also knew that Warren was “with you” when you were out on stage and performing; it was like he was connected with you and breathing with you as a singer – always in sync with you, always right there with you at every beat. It was a joy to rehearse a show with Warren; but it was an honor and a privilege to perform one with him.

Our deepest condolences and all our love go out to his treasured wife Andrea, to their beautiful daughters Fiona and Julia, and all of his family and friends.

Godspeed, buddy. You will be sorely missed and are greatly loved.