Theatrical Mementos began innocently enough in July of 2001 as Thompson & Iacopelli Limited Edition Theatrical Mementos. Mary Jo DeNolf, Volunteer Coordinator for the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre in Michigan, informed G.M. (Bud) Thompson that GRCT was considering centralizing the production of the commemorative show shirts that were made available to the casts and crews of each show they did. Knowing Bud had a background in design as well as having done shirts for a variety of other occasions and organizations, Mary Jo suggested Bud approach GRCT about taking on this process.
As he mused on the demands of doing an entire season of show shirts, Bud realized he would need some help. He approached Matt Iacopelli, a recent high school graduate who had established himself as a consistent and highly reliable presence at GRCT as an actor, sound designer/engineer and stage manager (who had also coordinated shirts for a recent show). Besides his involvement at GRCT, Matt's status as a college freshman at a downtown GR campus would put him near the theatre on a daily basis. Matt agreed to help, and on July 29 the partnership was born.
Shortly thereafter, GRCT agreed to let them take their shot. Utilizing the advantages of a long-term, multiple show commitment, Bud and Matt quickly took their respective experiences in show shirts and developed a sophisticated ordering and production process (most of which is still in use today).
While they were still working on Rebecca, their first shirt project for GRCT, a member of that cast approached them about doing shirts for his high school cross country team. They designed and printed that project and soon they were working with a variety of organizations doing everything from show shirts to ski team apparel.
During that first show, they joked about having a website someday, but only five months later the volume of projects they were doing made internet accessibility an attractive and valuable option. With the invaluable help of Tom Bush, a web designer and mutual friend from the GRCT Sweeney Todd cast, and later with the expertise of Danny Triant, a programer and fellow cast member from GRCT's Ragtime, the website that served us so well for 12 years was conceived, created, and expanded.
In the ensuing years, Matt got married, moved to Florida for work and started a family.
In 2011, Bud accepted a job opportunity in Denver, CO. Sadly, that looked like it would be the end of Theatrical Mementos. While getting ready to move, Bud held a "yard sale" at his apartment and friend Stacey Wykoski stopped by. She saw the shirt order boards and said, "You're not going to throw these away, are you?" Yes. "Why don't I hang on to them," said Stacey, "just in case there might be a need for them."
Shortly after arriving in Denver, it dawned on Bud that, if the ordering process went to ALL online, he could (thanks to the Wonder of Modern Technology) administer Theatrical Mementos from 1,200 miles away. He would just need someone to do the occasion "leg work" of picking up and delivering finished shirts in GR. Would Stacey be willing to help? Yes she would! And the all-electronic Theatrical Mementos was born.
Thanks to Stacey's invaluable help, we not only continued, but thrived. And now, with this new website (we are lucky we got as many years as we did out of the old web programming) and other modernizations, we are poised to continue to provide the quality service and products that have made us famous in West Michigan.
In 2021, we celebrated TWENTY YEARS! A lot has changed in that time, including for us as individuals, but it has been a fun and rewarding adventure... which we never thought would last this long! On behalf of all the folks who have helped with Theatrical Mementos over the years, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK: all the organizations that have invited us to be a part of their events... and all the individuals who have worked with us and ordered from us over the years. We literally could not have done it without you! And we look forward to many more years of friendship and shirts!
