Photo of Ken Ludwig by Leslie Cashen.
YLT looks ahead to 2012:
York Little Theatre struggled last winter. Leaders had a difficult time raising money and did not receive funding from the Cultural Alliance of York County. It eliminated three staff positions and restructured its board. Thro said of the theater’s finances are back in track. The theater won a contest through Fastsigns, so the Spring Garden Township theater will get new signage.
The theater’s 2012-13 season, which kicks off this fall, will be its 80th. Thro said that the theater is in the process of planning the season and will probably announce the lineup in February to correspond with Ludwig’s visit. The season will likely include an anniversary celebration and a series of small events to highlight different parts of its history. The theatre has reworked its education program. It plans to offer a teen Shakespeare workshop, theater classes for special-needs children and an internship program for high school students.
Read about what’s happening at the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center, YorkArts and DreamWrights.
Here is an email message Strand CEO Ken Wesler sent me in response to my PopEye column:
First, as a ” by the way”, I commissioned Duncan’s musical Whisper House while I was CEO of The Stamford Center for the Arts.
Also, there is a third category of artist we can present in addition to “waxing and waning”, and that is artists who do not need to make the money generated by a venue with more seats.
Often, it is an artist like Jackson Browne who just wants the intimacy of a (theater) as opposed to an arena, or what we call sheds which are larger than (theaters), but smaller than arenas.
Sometimes there are quirky reasons or personal reasons. This is a very relationship driven business.
The most important reason I wanted to explain how this works, is to try and combat the idea that we can book anything we choose to, because that is what generates anger, or at least frustration, on the part of Customers who don’t think we want them at the (theater) because we are not programming acts they want to see. Alternately, customers will think we “don’t get it” as you heard a bit at the meeting.
As I think I said at the meeting, believe me, if the people of York want to see it, and I can get it, it will be at The Strand-Capitol! So if you DON’T see it, then it is because we can’t get it!
IF this is a relationship driven business as Wesler is saying then you all are in trouble in York because he SCREWS every relationship! Watch your funds that he’s using toward political campaigns and personal pay offs to local government and police departments — ALL to serve his own agenda and personal desires!
And, as a ” by the way”, he neglects to mention while he was CEO of The Stamford Center for the Arts he bankrupted the place — partially in his self glorification to attempt to pretend that he’s a “producer” and not just a con man!