THOMAS BRADAC (Bradac Family).

By Alyssa Bradac/Special to The Tribune

Thomas “Tom” Bradac, a leader in producing and directing theater for his community and his students in Orange County and elsewhere, has died.

Tom was born July 30. 1947 to Evelyn Pearl Bradac in Southgate, California. He was the 4th of Evelyn’s five children, his younger brother Daniel was born 2 years later – the two were very close their whole lives.

Tom graduated from Santa Fe Springs High School in 1965, an actor and choir  singer. He went to Cal State Long Beach and was cast in many productions throughout his time.

It was in college he discovered directing, and stayed on at Cal State Long Beach to receive his teaching credentials and Master’s Degree in Theatre Directing.

After university, he became a high school teacher at San Dimas High and led the life of a working artist. He was in the ensemble at South Coast Repertory for a year, and started the Hollywood Theatre Ensemble with Sal Romeo. They did a productions at the Burbage Theatre in Redondo Beach.

The group eventually attained a contract in Bethany, Pennsylvania at an estate that had a theatre. They did summer stock musicals and plays for four years. It was during the company’s time in Bethany where Tom met and worked lifelong friends and colleagues including Michael Nehring, Tom’s friend, Chapman University colleague and collaborator of almost 50 years.

After the Hollywood Theatre Ensemble, Tom saw an add on a bulletin board for someone to help start a resident theatre company in Garden Grove, at the Gem Theatre. Tom was hired, and helped get the fledgling Grove Theatre Company off the ground.

After the first year, Tom became the Artistic Producing Director and began plans to build The Festival Amphitheatre, which would serve to be the home for The Grove Shakespeare Festival where Tom would go on to direct and produce over 60 productions, win many awards, and helped build Garden Grove into a cultural county powerhouse in the 1980s and early 90s.

Tom began teaching at Chapman University in 1988, which ended up serving as his artistic and intellectual home when he resigned from the Grove in 1991.

Chapman was also Tom’s second Orange County theatre company, Shakespeare Orange County, which eventually moved to Garden Grove’s Festival Amphitheatre for a 10-year run. Between 1988 until his retirement in 2023, Tom directed dozens of productions and taught thousands of students.

Apart from his professional life, Tom married Anne Barolet in 1987 and had two daughters, Alyssa and Caitlin. He was a wonderful husband and father who loved his family very much. He was a coach for basketball and softball teams, loved going to Rams and Angels games, and an avid traveller.

Tom loved travelling to Scotland, Ireland, Prague, Italy, and especially Stratford-Upon-Avon. He loved art and Irish music, beer and pinball, and California sunshine. He loved to sing “Jesus Christ Superstar” at Easter and listen to Dylan Thomas’ “A Child Christmas in Wales” during Christmas. He loved family gatherings and visiting his brother Daniel in Olympia, Washington.

Tom passed away on March 13, 2024 at the Kaiser La Palma Hospital at the age of 76.

Tom is survived by his wife Anne Barolet, sister Marjorie Shellnutt of Kingsport, Tennessee, brother Daniel Knutson-Bradac and sister-in-law Kari Knutson-Bradac of Olympia, Washington, daughter Alyssa Dianne Bradac (Glynnis Bradac), daughter Caitlin Bradac-Ballas (John Ballas), in laws Paul & Elena Barolet of Glendale, Jean Barolet and Chris Barolet of Garden Grove, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends, students, colleagues, collaborators, and supporters.