London Inc. September 2022 - 23
like to think there's more art in the management of a
producing theatre organization than there is scrambling.
We are articulate, passionate theatre creators.
The worlds we create onstage are immensely varied,
and that work spurs on the management of the organization.
It is our job as administrators and leaders to
ensure the work resonates with our communities, that
our communities see themselves on and off our stages,
that we create welcoming and inclusive environments
and that we are able to tell the stories that are needed
for our time. Yes, there are always going to be meetings,
budgets, fundraising, ticket sales, marketing, HR and
more - and these are all tools in support of the greater
aim of telling important, relevant stories.
One of the legacies your predecessor Deb
Harvey leaves behind is the Grand's $9-million
renovation, unveiled last year. How has that
changed the theatre-going experience? The
renovation has created modern, accessible and
inclusive spaces, and will also foster further conversations
and additional activity. I'm particularly excited
about the enhancements to the fourth floor Drewlo
Lounge, a space that looks out over Richmond, has
ample space for patrons to enjoy a beverage and will
host important conversations and events in support
of the work on the Spriet and Auburn stages, as well as
ancillary standalone events.
How well do you know artistic director Dennis
Garnhum? When I was a young stage manager,
Dennis was Theatre Calgary's newly minted AD. He
took a chance on me, and we worked together on a
large-scale musical, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. We
became close colleagues and friends, working together
on many productions in the following years, and
though I moved away from stage management towards
production, administration and leadership roles, the
opportunity to work with Dennis once more was one I
couldn't pass up. I'm inspired by his artistic vision and
creativity, his drive to create inclusive and welcoming
teams and his ambition to create theatre that resonates.
At one point when I was moving out of stage
management and towards administrative, production
and leadership roles, Dennis said, " Oh, you think you're
leaving the theatre, but you'll be back. " I'm excited this
has been proven true.
Successful theatres follow best practices in many
cases but also have unique relationships with
their cities. How do you balance your considerable
experience with the existing culture at the
Grand? There are many similarities between my previous
employer, Western Canada Theatre, and WCT's
relationship with the Kamloops community, with the
relationship the Grand has with London. Theatres are
inherently locally driven, having been created by the
incredible and longstanding contributions of patrons,
volunteers, donors, board members, staff and artists
over the years. I believe it is the role of leadership to
acknowledge and celebrate these past contributions,
work with our present stakeholders and foster future
relationships to the best of our abilities. We celebrate
where we've come from, while aiming for the future.
INTERVIEW BY CHRISTOPHER CLARK
SEPTEMBER 2022 | londonincmagazine.ca | 23
https://musiccitycanada.com/
http://www.londonincmagazine.ca
London Inc. September 2022
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