Your Webmaster

Your Webmaster Charles R. Kaiser and his wife Kimberley McLean on the Isle of Barra
(note Kisimul Castle in the Background)

I maintain this site for Clan MacNeil Net on a volunteer basis.  Errors and Omissions of the contents are my responsibility.  Should you note anything in need of correction, please contact me and the corrections will be made during the next update to the site.  I strive to update the site at least twice weekly, and errors of fact or violations of copyright will be corrected as soon as possible.  I also strive to answer all email and guestbook entries in a timely and personal fashion.  Your comments and thoughts about this site are most welcome.

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Several visitors have asked that always present question:  "With a last name like yours, how come you are maintaining a website about Clan MacNeil?"  That is why I have decided to present this page.  I will try to answer that question and others.

My name is Charles R. Kaiser.  I am named after my great-grandfather Charles A. McNeill and my grandfather Robert Kaiser.  The last name "Kaiser" is German, and brings on images of Oktoberfest, sausages and lederhosen.  Don't get me wrong, I love Oktoberfest and sausages.  I can do without the lederhosen.  I feel I look much better in the kilt.

"McNeill" is my Scottish part.  So far I have been able to trace my McNeill ancestors back to my fifth great-grandfather.  He was John Dominic McNeel (also spelled McNeil and McNeill in various records), American Patriot.  John Dominic came to New Jersey in 1744 from a little place called Barra.  He was an orphan, and only four years old. 

I have been able to learn more about John Dominic through information provided in applications of family members to the Daughters of the American Revolution.  The DAR can be a wonderful resource for people wanting to learn more about their families.  However, this page is not about my ancestors, it is about me, so I will try to get back on track.

I am a theatre technical director and lighting designer by profession.  I have been working in theatre since high school.  I hold a BFA Degree in Theatre and Dance from Eastern New Mexico University and an MFA Degree in Lighting Design and Technical Direction from Virginia Tech.  Until November of 1998, I was the Production Manager for the Ford Centre for the Performing Arts in Metropolitan Toronto, where I worked on such shows as:  Show Boat, Sunset Boulevard, Ragtime and Fosse. 

My career at the Ford Centre came to a screeching halt with some health problems and the collapse of Livent Inc. (one was not related to the other).  Livent Inc. was the manager of the Ford Centre and my employer.  When they went under, I went in search of other work.  I am now working at the Newmarket Theatre in Newmarket, Ontario.  It is a much smaller venue, but I am back to doing hands-on work, and the stress level is MUCH lower.  I also get time off and get compensated for overtime.  Gee, what a concept!  Sure is different than the 60 to 70 hour weeks that I was doing.

I am married to Kimberley McLean and we live in Aurora, Ontario with our two chihuahuas Pedro and Maya.

• Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels Commissioned July 7, 2000 by Paul E. Patton
• Professional Member of the Associated Designers of Canada (Lighting)
• Professional Member of the Association of Lighting Designers
• Member of the Canadian Institute of Theatre Technology
• Member of the United States Institute of Theatre Technology
• Eastern New Mexico University Alumni Association (BFA^Hon. '87)
• UWP International Alumni Association (Cast B '82-'83)
• Virginia Tech Alumni Association (MFA '91)
• Member of the Kappa Upsilon Cast of Alpha Psi Omega
• Member of the Theta Phi Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (OAS AAS LLS!)
• Chihuahua Club of Ontario

Thanks for your visit and support of this site.