Sunny Vidrine is a Louisiana native who took her creative spirit on a journey from the bayou to the bright lights of Broadway. After earning her degree from the University of Georgia, Vidrine set her sights on New York City, establishing a career as a professional costumer. She worked on iconic productions such as “Seussical: The Musical,” “Les Miserables,” “The Producers,” and “Sweet Charity.”
Returning to the South, Vidrine pursued her passion for education, earning a master’s degree in education from the University of Georgia and embarking on a fulfilling career teaching theatre for over a decade before arriving at Perimeter College in January of 2023 to serve as production manager for the Fine Arts Department. Vidrine’s commitment to the arts extends beyond the Fine Arts building. She also sits on the board of Georgia Thespians, where she dedicates her time to recruiting over 100 guest artists to teach workshops for their annual conference.
Outside of her professional life, she enjoys the company of her husband, Daniel Bollinger, and their energetic 8-year-old son, Harrison. When not busy with family or theatre, she finds joy in hiking, sewing, reading and cycling. Sunny's entrepreneurial spirit shines through her small business, Gen 3 Creations, found at gen3creations.com, where she collaborates with Harrison who sews fun dog bandanas while she crafts her own stylish tote bags.
Below we asked Vidrine a few questions for a deeper understanding of what drives her passion and professionalism.
What are your responsibilities as production manager for Perimeter’s Fine Arts Department?
Most of my time is spent making sure that the events in the building run smoothly and have everything they need to be successful. This includes Fine Arts events such as theatre productions, music events and gallery exhibits, as well as college wide events such as the Dean's kickoff event, business meetings, Nurse's Pinning, and more. I also work with MarCom and others on media campaigns for Fine Arts events. I run our social media page and handle the box office for shows.
What can you tell us about yourself that might surprise people?
From the beginning of August until the end of 2024, I was battling Stage 1 breast cancer. I am proud to say that, thanks to early detection, I am done with treatments and doing well. I am so grateful to my team in the Fine Arts department. They were amazing and supported me throughout my journey by keeping my spirits up and stepping in where needed when I was out of the office.
How do you practice self-care?
I love going on hikes or just being in nature. This is something that we do as a family, and it is so restorative for all of us. I also do yoga twice a week. My "treat yourself" way to practice self-care is to get a pedicure. One newly discovered act of self-care is to make my bed every morning. I am a little embarrassed to admit that I have never been a person who makes their bed. But in an effort to encourage my son to make his bed every morning, I promised I would do it, too. Now that I understand the relaxation, joy, and little luxury of getting into a bed that is made, I am a changed person. Who knew that 30 seconds in the morning could make such a difference!
What are you most looking forward to in the future?
On a professional level, I am most looking forward to watching our department strengthen and grow. Therefore, I am actively seeking opportunities to expand our recruiting efforts. Perimeter College is a gem, and I want as many potential students as possible to know about it.
On a personal level, I am most looking forward to continuing to explore national parks and monuments with my husband, Daniel, and son, Harrison. Now that Harrison is old enough to appreciate spectacular feats of nature, we have a goal to visit one a year. So far, we've been to Muir Woods, Point Reyes, Montezuma Castle, The Grand Canyon, Tuzigoot, and have plans to visit Yellowstone this year.
Favorite quote: Strive not to make your presence known, rather, strive to make your absence felt.