Theatre Thu Jan 15 2009

Executive Exits

Is the volatile arts climate is having its effect on Chicago theater administrations? Last week Court Theatre executive director Dawn Helsing announced her resignation. On Tuesday Redmoon Theater's executive and artistic directors, Jim Lasko and Christopher Schram, announced theirs.

While it may be easy to blame the recent moves on today's shaky financial scene, it should be noted that under Helsing's direction Court increased its annual budget from $2.5 to $3.2 million and saw its biggest hit to date in Caroline, or Change (which was on seemingly everyone's top 10 list last year). Redmoon may not be sitting as pretty -- the company announced it is contracting in size and will produce fewer shows on their home stage this year -- but its current production, Winter Pageant Redux, recently extended.

It's no picnic to lead an arts organization through an economic downturn, especially for administrators who'd rather focus on making plays for audiences than making spreadsheets for board members. (As Lasko's open resignation letter states, "I relish the opportunity to focus more purely on my artistic practice. Organizational leadership, like parenting, is a heavy load.") So it seems likely that this recent trilogy of arts administrators won't be the only ones to get shaken out of the trees, nor will their successors be the only fresh faces on the Chicago theater scene once this crisis is behind us.

— Katherine Raz