KEITH THIBODEAUX
Mr. Thibodeaux, executive director of Ballet Magnificat! since 1993, first came to national attention as the drum-playing son of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz on the now classic "I Love Lucy" show. Hailed as a child prodigy, Keith started drumming at the age of two in Lafayette, LA. His abilities led him to a national tour, a starring role as "Little Ricky Ricardo" and various acting stints on television, including "The Andy Griffith Show," "Route 66," "The Shirley Temple Playhouse," "Hazel," and many more. While attending the University of Louisiana in Lafayette, Keith joined and recorded with the then mainstream rock band, "David and the Giants." Keith left the group after several years, but, following his (and fellow band members) Christian conversion, the band regrouped under the same name and went on to become one of the nation’s top contemporary Christian music groups. As a drummer, singer, and songwriter for the Dove nominated "David and the Giants," Keith toured extensively for 10 years in the United States, Canada, Jamaica, and England, recording 9 albums before leaving the group in 1989 to pursue other interests. He has been featured in such publications as Newsweek , People , Saturday Evening Post, Modern Drummer , CCM, and Classic Drummer Magazines. He has also been a frequent guest on NBC's The Today Show, Entertainment Tonight, CBS's Good Morning America and the O'Reilly Show. In January of 1991, he joined his wife Kathy, a professional ballet dancer and silver medalist in the 1982 II USA International Ballet Competition, on the road with Ballet Magnificat! In 1993, Keith became executive director of the national/international touring ballet company School of the Arts founded by his wife. Keith now makes his home in Jackson, MS, with Kathy. They have one daughter, Tara, who married college basketball great and professional NBA player Bryce Drew. In addition to his current responsibilities at Ballet Magnificat!, Keith still finds time for the drums and recording. Keith's book, Life After Lucy, tells the story of his life as Little Ricky on the "I Love Lucy" show, and subsequent encounter with Jesus Christ as Savior. Life After Lucy is sold in bookstores and in The Gift Shop section of this website.