LET'S HEAR IT!
TWN CASTS THE NET
BY LUCRETIA VOIGT CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Jordana Fleischut, the Producing Director for Theatre Workshop of Nantucket, has a vision. It includes you, so get prepared. Here's how: attend the Open Town Planning Forum for the Future on Thursday, November 15 at 5:30 p.m. in the upstairs performance space at the United Methodist Church, 2 Centre Street.

ROB BENCHLEY/The Independent Fleischut: "We want to give the community a chance to voice their opinion - to ask them 'What do you see as the future of your theatre?' I just want to make the connection and to provide a place for [the community's] talents and time. The community and friendships you build, the interest you share, and the people you would maybe never otherwise meet - it's what Nantucket is all about."

Begun in 1956, Theatre Workshop celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. Under the direction of Pam Murphy, the past president of the Board of Directors, TWN reached out to the community through email contacts and events. In addition, they hired Fleischut to serve as the first producing director in the history of the theatre. Fleischut had lived in Nantucket during the '80s but left for the mainland in the 90s. When she came across the ad that TWN was searching for a producing director, Fleischut thought it might be her chance to move with her family back to the island. When she interviewed for the position, Fleischut wanted the job, but was sure she did not have a chance. "In the last interview, I knew I had a shot, but I thought maybe I was a little too high energy for them," she said. "Maybe I was scaring them!"

Fleischut is definitely high energy. Her enthusiasm is contagious and like a triple shot of espresso without the jittery side effects. When she found out she had the job, she took it on in typical Jordana style - fast and furious.

"The Board said they wanted to grow. I said, 'It's nice to want, but you've got to jump, and we've all got to jump together,'" recalled Fleischut when relating her initial meeting with the Board of Directors of TWN. Fleischut is jumping with both feet and taking Nantucket with her for the flight. She brought in a resident company this summer to augment the schedule, added an entire season of performances for and by children and made connections with community organizations like the Boys and Girls Club.

"I knew if the theatre was going to make it, some things had to change," Jordana explained. "TWN had a really good base plan, but they were only targeting a very small segment of the population. This year round population is huge, around 12,000 people, and very cultural, very artsy. It's easy to make it work - just give the community something they want to see on the stage. You have to speak to the littlest people all the way up to the most senior people in the community. Between that, you'll find your audience."

Fleischut is looking forward to keeping the momentum going. She and the new board president, Frank Morral, will be hosting the Open Town Planning Forum For the Future on Thursday. They want to open the doors to people who have dreamed of becoming a part of the theatre. "I just want people to get involved, to give me their time and talent," said Fleischut. "There is something for everyone. Not everyone has to be on the stage."

Fleischut and Morral also want to hear from as many community members as possible, to get input on what the community wants their theatre to embody. "We want to give the community a chance to voice their opinion - to ask them 'What do you see as the future of your theatre?' I just want to make the connection and to provide a place for [the community's] talents and time. The community and friendships you build, the interest you share, and the people you would maybe never otherwise meet - it's what Nantucket is all about."

Fleischut's theory of living comes through in her theory of theatre. She knows that if you believe, you can make it come true. "I hate the 'can't' word," she said. "There's a 30-mile moat out there. We have to have performing arts! This is the community's theatre, it belongs to every person who

lives on this island." I

- The Open Town Planning Forum For the Future takes place on Thursday, November 15 at 5:30 p.m. in the upstairs performance space at the Methodist Church, 2 Centre Street. Contact Jordana Fleischut at jordana.ack@comcast.net with any questions.