Sacred Fools Announces Development Director

Sacred Fools Theater Company's Management and Board of Directors are thrilled to welcome Michaela Bulkley into the newly created staff position of "Director of Development". A staff position dedicated to fundraising and patron development was recently made possible thanks to a grant from the Los Angeles County Arts Commission. After a late summer search, Sacred Fools was fortunate enough to secure Michaela Bulkley into the position.

Bulkley is passionate about empowering artists and building sustainable arts leadership. She has a background in theatre communications and management through working with organizations like Emerging Arts Leaders/Los Angeles, LA Stage Alliance, Produced by BEAR, and Circle X Theatre Company, and has done marketing for countless productions throughout Los Angeles. She has a BA in Theatre Arts from the University of La Verne and is currently pursuing at Masters Degree in Leadership and Management in Nonprofit Organization.

"Sacred Fools was the first theatre company I worked with when I moved to Los Angeles about 6 years ago" says Bulkley. "This is the first time this company has had an official development director, so it is a wonderful opportunity to really customize this position to what Sacred Fools needs and how I can help them reach their goals. Building new infrastructure in a company that is 22 years old is going to be a challenge, but between constantly producing high-quality work, taking on a new space, and hiring paid staff, Sacred Fools doesn't back down from a challenge, and neither do I, which makes this a great match. My goals are to build fundraising into the culture of the company. We are a theatre company, but at the root of it we are a nonprofit creating something that serves the community, and that is truly valuable and worth people's support."

Sacred Fools Board President Bruno Oliver notes that the last few years have been tumultuous and almost overwhelming for the company as it moved from its single space home of 19 years to the multi-theater complex now known as The Broadwater (FKA The Elephant, Lillian, Asylum theaters), shifted its business model, took on a huge portion of hosting the Hollywood Fringe Festival and welcomed The Broadwater Plunge theater bar as a co-habitant in the space.

According to Oliver, "We simply ran out of bandwidth and personnel to make fundraising a priority or even keep that machinery consistently running. Bringing Michaela into the Fools now that the transition has settled signals our commitment to both maintain a strong current footing but make significant leaps into the future."

Echoes Co-Artistic Director Adriana Colón "We're so grateful to have an enthusiastic and strategic person like Michaela on board to help spread our message. We have a vision for how we can support our community, and a Development Director communicates how our community can support us! It completes the cycle."

Bulkley will be reporting directly to Managing Director Padraic Duffy and the Board of Directors. in addition to reshaping and restarting the current fundraising apparatus, Bulkley will also assist in Board Development which is another priority for the company. Emily Kosloski will stay on as Grants Director. "I am thrilled that Michaela has joined the Sacred Fools team" says Duffy. "Her strong commitment to and exuberance for theater and community make her a wonderful fit for us as we take the next step in our development as a professional organization."

Bulkley's first major task is already under way; Sacred Fools' "19by19" end of year fundraising campaign with the ambitious goal of raising $19,000 before midnight New Years Eve. The money's raised are earmarked for a number of operating expenses as well as in support of Sacred Fools "Tickets Never More Than $15" pledge for the second season in a row.

The next Main Season production at Sacred Fools will be the West Coast Premiere of by Jiréh Breon Holder's "TOO HEAVY FOR YOUR POCKET" directed by the multi-award winning Michael A. Shepperd opening February 1st.

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