This was the body of the e-mail:
For immediate release.
Respectfully,
Skylight Opera Theatre Board of Directors
friendsofskylight@skylightopera.com
This was the content:
From the Board of Directors of the Skylight Opera TheatreNow many people might have a problem with this letter, but I'm still just trying to figure it out.
The Board of Directors greatly appreciates the recent public and donor messages of concern and support for The Skylight’s artistic product. We have read, heard, and discussed them all, and thank everyone who has expressed support for The Skylight.
At a full meeting of the Board of Directors last night, it was resolved to establish communications with Bill Theisen regarding the role of Artistic Director at The Skylight. The Board sincerely hopes Bill will agree to return to The Skylight as its Artistic Director for the company’s 50th Anniversary Season. We continue to respect Bill’s artistic ability and his value to The Skylight and to the Milwaukee arts community.
The Board remains committed to strengthening The Skylight’s financial position so that it can continue to serve as a creative force in the Milwaukee community -- and as an employer able to showcase a variety of artists for years to come. Our old organizational structure is not fiscally sustainable in these economic times. The Board’s strategic plan emphasizes establishing an overall structure including artistic adminstration that will work for The Skylight now and can be adapted when finances improve.
The Board would like to accept and embrace the many offers it has received for benefit performances, assistance in fundraising, and donations. Anyone interested in helping The Skylight can e-mail the board at friendsofskylight@skylightopera.com.
The board continues to support Eric Dillner and the entire staff of The Skylight who have filled in and carried on during this time. They deserve the respect and appreciation of all.
I'll go as far as giving a tip of the hat to The Skylight Board for edging towards reversing what many of us see as a short sighted decision to fire the Artistic Director in the first place. But it's a tip with some hesitation.
I don't really need to spell out how ludicrous it is to imagine that Bill Theisen would gladly skip into work on Monday morning as the newly restored Artistic Director, knock on Eric Dillner's office door and happily chime, "What are you doing for lunch today Managing Director old pal 'o mine?" Right? We all see that, right?
Here's the thing that I take issue with as an arts administrator myself. This response and any other response about any of this situation lacks Eric Dillner's fingerprints, the man that the Board of Directors has expressed full confidence in as the leader of the institution.
I was just talking about this letter with a friend and colleague who was scratching her head not quite sure what to make of it, when I found myself thinking about a parent fighting battles for their children. If I were to go on the schoolyard playground and fight all my children's battles, you better believe that the moment I left my kids on that schoolyard playground alone, they would get their asses kicked. And for good reason.
I will acknowledge that it is good that the Skylight Board has given some response, stupefying as it may be. But where is Eric Dillner in all of this? If we are to believe that the Board of The Skylight is open to accepting offers of help from those eager to contribute their time, talent and resources towards helping fix the financial ship that is off course for the company, doesn't it seem the supported leader who is supposed to be organizing the future of the company might want to come forward?
Sorry, but I can't get behind this all...yet. (I really, really hope that yet is going to fade away.)
We've not yet heard specifics on when some much touted community forums are going to happen where we can all ask direct, hard questions of the people we are supposed to (and believe me when I say, the people we WANT to at some point) get behind and support as the community comes together to guide The Skylight into a more celebratory place. The Board of The Skylight is trying to do some parenting, I'll give them that. They are simply setting their child up to be left alone on the playground yard for some pretty serious ass kicking.
9 smart alecky remarks:
I totally agree. I just read this on Strini's blog and my mind was blown. There are still a lot of unanswered questions. I'm shocked.
It sounds like the same round of BS that they have been touting for almost a month now. Very noncommittal, plus, it doesn't say they are going to reinstate Bill, only that they are happy to have him a part of the 50th YEAR. I read that as "yes, we really need him, cuz things are gonna suck arse if no one comes to the shows, and if actors won't act without Bill. But after that..." Yes, what I read is that they'll use him for the next season, and then say see ya, don't let the door hit ya on the way out. This letter is evasive, calculated, and reeks of 'blech', to use a good friend's word. I'm sickened, and disheartened.
I agree that the board's statement was mystifying and maddeningly double-tongued. I had to read it several times myself to unscramble the convoluted sentences. However, I want to throw out something that has been rolling around in my brain pan. We have been criticizing the board for trying to open a season without artistic staff. Wouldn't it be just as bad to open a season without an MD, if ED were fired? Don't yell at me, please, but as uncomfortable as it may be, it's something to think about.
1) I agree about that vague "50th year" language they used. Bill's already agreed to direct 4 of the 5 shows he was originally set to direct. Without a firm reinstatement offer this means nothing. And I won't even go into the other still-vacant positions.
2) Be careful of all this playground talk, as the poor, victimized Skylight will think you're suggesting personal attacks! Oy. *rolls eyes grandly*
Fair enough. I would be open to hearing about what exactly Dillner has done for the company. From what I understand, the Artistic side of things was going remarkably well, making money on every show. Sidewalk? Not the problem of the AD. Roof? Not the problem of the AD. Firing people and not being prepared for the backlash and horribly mishandling the ensuing affair? Squarely in the lap of the MD. Not informing the Board of what was happening? MD again. But maybe I've got this guy all wrong. Please set me straight.
He won't come back, has A.D. forget about it. Maybe has director, sure. But not has A.D. do you really think he is going to be-able to put this aside and say "hey whatever!"
NO!!
plus if he does take it back which i think he should not, just to make it clear.....
don't break out the wine bottle, He still could get canned after the 50th year is over and then we'd have to play this game all over again.
Maybe Bill is being asked to come back so Eric does not have to make the curtain speech and get his ass boo off.
I know would have boo Eric.
No change. all that protesting and for what???
It ain't over yet, folks...
After Libby left Bill and Diana were running things so they could do that again until someone more suitable is found for the MD position.
After Libby left Bill and Diana were running things, so they could do that again until someone more suitable is found for the MD position.
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