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At TWN
ticket sales up, search on for new producing director
BY MARLI GUZZETTA
The Theatre Workshop of Nantucket had big news to report at its 50th annual meeting last Thursday.
First off, the organization enjoyed another fiscal year in the black, with the popularity of shows like "Beyond Therapy," "Over the River" and "The Graduate" driving box office receipts $20,000 higher than last year's numbers. Contributions were up (over $7,000) and production costs were down (over $8,000), due in large part to the talented work of Eric Schultz, who signed on as the TWN Technical Director in January.
"I think our donors, many of whom joined us from Actors Theatre have really enjoyed and appreciated what we've been doing. We thank them all large and small from the bottom of our hearts," said TWN president Pam Murphy, who assumed a new term as the TWN's president.
Murphy also noted that the Methodist Church had renewed the TWN's lease, with the significant change being that the TWN will not have the Performance Center during the summer months. "We will be sharing the church with the Brazilian Church, alternating occupation of the upstairs and downstairs. We don't see this as a hindrance at all and there is a welcome reduction in the rent as a result," Murphy said.
The organization said goodbye to stalwarts like Peter Greenhalgh, who reached his nine-year term limit as a TWN board member. "He promises me he will continue to host the Armchair Theatre series and find venues for opening night parties," Murphy said, thanking Greenhalgh for recruiting her to join the TWN in 2001.
TWN also welcomed new board members Frank Morral and Ciaran Byrne, and announced that director Mike Feeney, who incurred a nasty fall and was Medevacked to Boston the Friday before while striking "The Graduate" set, was on his way home and expected to make a full recovery.
But the biggest news was the announcement that Jane Karakula is (half) stepping down as the TWN's year-round artistic director.
"Jane has indicated that she would like to reduce her time commitment to that of Summer Artistic Director, in order to free herself up in the off-season for other pursuits and personal offisland requirements," Murphy said.
Karakula came to the TWN in 2004 after the dissolution of Actors Theatre of Nantucket, for which she served as the associate artistic director. She has for the last three seasons picked a roster of shows that have had favorable responses from the community - some of them even breaking TWN records for sales and attendance.
"In an effort to accommodate Jane and still meet the growing needs of the organization, we've decided to begin a search for a producing director who will be a year-round presence," Murphy said.
For this year-round, full-time position, the TWN said it is seeking "an enthusiastic, well-organized individual with extensive experience in production, marketing, advertising, promotion and fundraising for our charming community/semi-professional theatre."
The TWN board has decided that the position will be responsible for day-to-day management of TWN affairs and will assist with choosing the season, hiring staff and local casting. The TWN's Search Committee, chaired by Gordon McGregor, will accept resumes until December 1 of this year, and will then begin conducting phone and in-person
interviews. The new hire is expected to begin in March of next year. (Specific information on the application process will be posted soon on the TWN website, www.theatreworkshop.com.)
In order to free up time for the board to hire a producing director, the TWN has cancelled its fall performance of "Godspell" - with the hopes that the show will be resurrected on island in the future.
"This is all very exciting," said Murphy as she closed out the meeting. "We've been growing by leaps and bounds of late, and we intend to keep this forward momentum going with organization, and professionalism, and by addressing the needs of the community."
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