Skylight Opera Theatre Announces Bill Theisen's Return as Artistic Director

Joan Lounsbery, Interim Managing Director of the Skylight Opera Theatre, has announced the re-appointment of Bill Theisen as Artistic Director. The decision is part of a redistribution of responsibilities at the Skylight that will remain in place while the Skylight's incoming Board leadership and Managing Director assess the viability of all artistic positions moving forward.

Theisen re-assumes the Artistic Director position effective today through June 30, 2011. Board and staff leadership are in the Early Stages of a strategic planning process which will include an assessment of the Skylight's long-term artistic leadership.

Theisen will manage productions and planning as well as facilitate the artistic team's transition. He plans to direct up to two shows next season, which will reflect a program planned collaboratively with Interim Artistic Director Colin Cabot.

With Cabot's departure today as Interim Artistic Director, "we all feel a great sense of urgency in establishing a 2010-2011 season that is exciting, forward-thinking, and financially viable," Lounsbery said. "Bill's re-involvement enables the Skylight to move forward in quickly planning and preparing for 2010-2011, and provides a level of consistency in the Skylight product while we continue to develop a strategic plan for artistic leadership." Lounsbery added, "I am grateful to Colin Cabot for his artistic leadership during this time of transition at the Skylight." Cabot has been part of an interim management team along with Lounsbery. Although Cabot will no longer be on staff, he will attend Skylight Night, the company's annual gala, on October 24, and will also attend the November 11 Annual Meeting.

The Skylight's new management team will be fully in place on November 16, when Amy Jensen assumes the job of Managing Director, an appointment announced earlier.

"I love the Skylight and I always have, so I'm thrilled to be helping the administration with this transition," said Theisen. "Amy Jensen will be a terrific leader for the Skylight, and I want to help her and the company in any way I can."

Skylight Opera Theatre is a nationally recognized producer of the full-spectrum of Music Theatre. The Skylight is proud to be a cornerstone member of the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF), which provides major annual financial support. Through community support of the United Performing Arts Fund, UPAF Member and Affiliate Groups are able to provide education and outreach to over 400,000 children, provide over 2,000 live performances and reach over 1,000,000 people every year. When everyone supports the arts through UPAF, they help our local economy, improving education and strengthening outreach programs to the disabled and elderly - all while adding culture to their own life. Support of UPAF is critical to UPAF Member Groups' ability to continue to offer exceptional live performances, awardwinning education and outreach programming and substantial economic impact to our region. To learn more about UPAF or to donate, go to www.upaf.org.

To post a comment, you must register and login.