Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater Is Ready To Take Center Stage Once More

In the fall of 2017, Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater cancelled its last show amidst its 33rd season with a daunting mortgage crisis at hand. It looked dire for the non-profit which built a state-of-the art theater on State Highway Route 6 in 2008. Rumors were swirling that the theater was closing its doors. But in August, at their Sock & Buskin Bash, new Executive Director Christopher Ostrom and new Board Chair Donna Ward "burned the mortgage" (in theatrical style they used flash paper to illustrate it), and officially announced that the darkest days were behind them. The turnaround has been bolstered by generous donors, the good spirit of community in Wellfleet and the Outer Cape, and a determined Board of Trustees.

"We are going to be here for years to come - we now own the building and property outright!" Ms. Ward exclaimed. In addition, summer 2018 was an unqualified success with increased revenue, audience attendance up by 25% and a season heralded by critics and audiences alike. The series of plays, "This Is Our Youth," "Five Times in One Night," "An Act of God," and "Raging Skillet," each outdid the other. It's not a major shift in mission, but a fine tuning, which includes more audience outreach and mending fences from when times were challenging and uncertain.

Christopher Ostrom is not new to WHAT, just to the position. He first came to the organization in 1997 and stayed for nine years wearing a multitude of hats.

"My first paid design job was here at WHAT and working here opened my eyes to seeing theater as more than just something in a gold frame behind a red show curtain," he said.

Ostrom went on to be an accomplished designer and administrator. He was asked to come back to WHAT, serving as Managing Director and Artistic Associate through the summer of 2017. In the fall of 2017 the board put their trust in Ostrom to lead. This past season showed that he is the right fit at the right time.

As Howard Karren of the Banner observed, "If 'This Is Our Youth' is a harbinger for the season to come, then Outer Cape theatergoers are in for a formidable ride, and Chris Ostrom has amply proved himself worthy of his new role."

He has infused the organization with a new energy since taking over as Executive Director and one of the first orders of business, besides staging a come-back season, was beginning to build the board and staff. Patrick Riviere, whose past experience includes major roles with The Hudson Riverfront Performing Arts Center, Second Stage Theater, and NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, has been named Director of Development. Within the past six months, Robert Airosus, Jeffrey Buckley, Stewart Grossman and Esther Paster have joined the Trustees. Each bring experience and expertise to the organization and Stewart Grossman (who served for many years on the Board of Directors for Boston Ballet and remains an emeritus Trustee) believes the theater is in a phase of resurgence and wants to be a part of the revival.

The theater will announce its 35th Anniversary Season in the New Year, which according to Ostrom will pay tribute to their founding theatrical vision and also offer the outstanding variety that marked last season. WHAT also has a new name fulfilling part of the requirement of the mortgage settlement: Outermost Performing Arts Center (although they will continue to DBA as Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater). The new name inspires the organization's commitment to offer more than just outstanding theater; giving the opportunity to present a variety of music, dance and WHAT for Kids programming both on the Julie Harris Stage and in the Larry Phillips Performance Pavilion. OPAC/WHAT has just started its annual winter appeal and is asking the community to continue their support. Without sponsorship, major gifts and individual donations the theater would be hard pressed to move forward with its bold plans.

"To be part of an engaged and thoughtful community; one that values the arts and arts education, one that rewards creative endeavors, and one that challenges us to keep bringing stories alive that make us laugh louder, think harder, and stimulate the imagination; that's why this continues to be so important to me," Ostrom shared.
WHAT can finally squelch the rumors that they are closing their doors and announce with renewed optimism that they are working with the community in a spirit of collaboration to make their facilities a center for theater and performing arts on the Outer Cape.

For more information visit www.what.org

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