NEWS & Updates: Bridgetown Conservatory

(October 15, 2025, Portland, Oregon)  Bridgetown Conservatory of Musical Theatre is proud to announce the promotion of Diego Solan Kjelland to the newly created position of Associate Artistic Director. This announcement follows the announcement by Bridgetown’s Artistic Director and Founder, Rick Lewis, that he intends to retire from his position at the end of 2026. Rick is looking forward to mentoring Diego into his new leadership position over the next fourteen months.

Rick Lewis, as Artistic Director and Founder of Bridgetown Conservatory, elaborates, “I knew that retirement was inevitable, but until we met Diego, we really didn’t know who would be the right fit to steer our Conservatory into the future. Diego has been working as Conservatory Coordinator on the Bridgetown team for over a year. Through his work as coordinator, instructor, director, and actor, we have discovered a remarkably gifted individual who understands the singularity of our triple-threat program — an individual whom I hold in high regard and great trust to move the Conservatory forward.”

Diego Solan Kjelland received from the University of Montana his Bachelor of Fine Arts, with a focus in Musical Theatre. After relocating to the Portland area, Diego has been seen on stage as Clyde Barrow in Bridgetown’s acclaimed production of Bonnie & Clyde: the Musical, George Bailey in Stumptown Stages’ It’s a Wonderful Life, and as Bob Guadio in Jersey Boys at the Lakewood Center for the Arts. In Montana, Diego performed Jack Kelly in Newsies at the Missoula Children's Theatre, and at The University of Montana, he performed Johnny in American Idiot, Phil Davis in White Christmas, and Melchior Gabor in Spring Awakening. Diego is also a prolific writer of plays and music, and he is currently developing several new pieces for future premieres at Bridgetown. Diego’s writing can be found online at DiegoKjelland.com. 

Diego Kjelland’s official duties as Bridgetown’s Associate Artistic Director will begin on November 1st.  

Portland audiences will have the opportunity to meet Diego at the 1st Annual Ugly Holiday Sweater Alumni Cabaret Fundraiser on December 28th at Bridgetown Conservatory of Musical Theatre. 

Tickets for the fundraiser are available at: https://www.simpletix.com/e/the-1st-annual-ugly-holiday-sweater-alumni-tickets-240950