Tallahassee’s theatre community is bracing for the departure of a prolific director.
Naomi Rose-Mock has lived in Tallahassee for nearly 30 years. She’s directed over 100 community theatre productions in the region since 2006. She has made a name for herself as a coveted theatre director.
Last month, Rose-Mock made a shocking announcement on social media. She’s moving back home to the United Kingdom in late December to be closer to her aging parents.
18-year-old Ella Leaman was a little kid when she started doing shows, about 30 of them now with Rose-Mock.
“I’ve been doing shows with her since I was 6, and all my family did shows with her,” says Leaman, whose dad is Lincoln High School Choral Director Scott Leaman. “She is definitely part of my family and a lot of people’s families, too.”
Rose-Mock just opened one of her final shows in town with Parade at Faith Presbyterian Church. Cast member John Campana says he’s worked with Rose-Mock about a dozen times.
“She is definitely a force in this community as not just a director but as an educator,” Campana says. “When people find out that she’s involved in a production, they go to auditions. It’s going to be a huge hole, a huge void when she leaves.”
Rose-Mock has directed at Theatre Tallahassee, Quincy Music Theatre, Monticello Opera House, Lincoln High School, Faith Presbyterian Church, the big district summer shows at Leon High School, as well as venues in Thomasville, GA.
She’s created a circle of performers who want to be in her shows and who call her friend, like Ashleigh Littlefield, who estimates she’s been involved in close to 50 shows with Rose-Mock.
“I am extremely sad for myself but am very excited for her and (her) new opportunities,” Littlefield says through tears. “It’s certainly life-changing for everyone. She’s a very special person to many people.”
Mike Mock, a teacher at Leon and frequent crew member for community theatre shows, will be moving with his wife a year after she leaves.
Rose-Mock will be busy in her final few months here. After Parade closes, she is directing Cabaret at Young Actors Theatre. The show is being produced as a benefit for the performing arts school.
Rose-Mock’s grand finale will be her adaptation of A Christmas Carol: A Festival of Holiday Music at Faith Presbyterian Church. The show closes on December 22nd, and she moves away the next day.
Click LISTEN above to hear the entire segment from our show Speaking Of with Naomi Rose-Mock.
