The economic problems of recent years were challenging for arts organizations, but there was an upside – stability of leadership. With few jobs available, leaders of local arts organizations mostly stuck around doing their best to keep their organizations moving forward during trying times.
But with better economic news on all fronts, jobs in the arts are opening up again, and the downside is – we’re saying goodbye to some great arts executives.
Let’s start with the Double Todd Departure! I’ve been lucky enough to become friends with both Todd Smith, who runs the Tampa Museum of Art, and Todd Olson, longtime artistic director of American Stage. Sadly for me and local arts lovers, both are departing for new opportunities. Both organizations will be doing national searches for replacements.
Todd Olson
More on the two Todd’s soon. I’ll be speaking with both of them and will include their thoughts in a future PalladiumPaul blog.
Another icon of local arts, Stageworks founder and longtime director, Anna Brennen, was honored recently on her retirement. I was one of the MCs for the event.
David Warner, editor of Creative Loafing, wrote about it and his blog item appears below. To read the entire piece visit: http://cltampa.com/artbreaker/archives/2014/06/03/the-weekend-that-was-anna-brennen-roxanne-faye-lance-bass
BY DAVID WARNER: Two powerful women shone this weekend (and I’m not talking about Elsa or Angelina), and a South Tampa gallery opened with a splash — and a Bass.
Anna Brennen
On Sunday, I was glad to be in the audience for Stageworks Theatre’s grand sendoff to Anna Brennen, the company’s formidable founder and retired artistic director. The program took place in Stageworks’ home base in the Channel District; the space, which opened in 2011, was one of Brennen’s proudest achievements following the company’s long history as a “gypsy” theater.
Paul Wilborn and Kathi Grau emceed the event, which featured a kickoff number by everyone’s favorite mother-and-son cabaret team, the inimitable Scott & Patti, followed by a who’s who of local actors, directors and board members sharing recollections of what it was like to work with the legendary and famously outspoken artistic director. Grau’s comment that Brennen was “a pain in the ass” got one of the biggest laughs of the evening and not a few nods of assent — because, when it comes to theater, no one’s more passionately opinionated than Anna Brennen, and she’s never been above kicking some butt. She was also praised for creating a theater that placed a strong emphasis on diversity, both in its programming and its casting.
A highlight of the entertainment was a series of excerpts from Jane Martin’s Talking With…, with a starry group of actresses, including Eileen Koteles, Rosemary Orlando, and Lisa Powers, reprising excerpts from the monologues they performed in Stageworks’ original production in the 2001-02 season. Powers’ character was a baton twirler — and before she left the stage, she offered her baton to Brennen.
The passing of the baton has already taken place at Stageworks — Karla Hartley took over as producing artistic director at the beginning of 2014. But the retirement party for Brennen was a much-deserved tribute, testimony to a remarkable woman who has played a crucial role in Tampa Bay theater for more than 30 years.
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