The meaure of this man after a couple of brutal weeks of community arts mess

After the last couple of weeks there are a lot of FUCs in our community (see My life literally turning into an absurdist play for a definition of FUC) who have another name for me: F-U-C-K-E-R (see picture of my eyes above for definition of F-U-C-K-E-R).

Boo, hoo.

I have been accused in many corners of overstepping my bounds. I have been confronted by a number of FUCs who have said, "Hey, dial it down brother." Well, they actually didn't say that because FUCs have better grammar, but you get the picture.

Here's the thing: the FUCs are bothered by the F-U-C-K-E-R-S, and because of that, there are some good FUC points bubbling to the top of the cream. Sometimes we F-U-C-K-E-R-S need to poke the FUCs in the eye a little for all of us to get real. Now it's time to suck those creamy ideas off and for everyone to get fat and sassy together.

My contention about this whole Skylight affair is that the FUCs in our community may or may not be working behind the scenes because they are as outraged as the F-U-C-K-E-R-S over how one arts institution in our community can continue to build more mistrust, suspicion and ill feelings as the management of The Skylight decides that the best tactic is to remain silent. Time will only tell if their back room deals are actually happening, or if that's just a nice bit of lip service.

Well, as an F-U-C-K-E-R, I can't really advocate silence. I would point to the fact that the silence at The Skylight that continues in regards to their mangling of this situation is proof enough for me that silence in all forms is an ineffective way to conduct business.

I'm not smooth. I'm not concerned much with appearances (see the glasses?). The measure of this man is to continue to make some noise.

I would suggest that those of you who are outraged about the management of The Skylight and their arrogant belief that the fervor will end not believe the hype that the worst of the PR bashing is over for The Skylight. Dig in, get ready, and be prepared to be questioned at every turn, F-U-C-K-E-R-S. The real goal of continuing to make noise about the gross miscalculation of not involving the greater community that has cherished The Skylight for generations before making a change that alters the very root nature of the experience at The Skylight is to demand some accountability for breaking a huge trust in our cherished arts community. I don't purport to have the perfect answer to the fixes that need to be made at The Skylight, but I do know those fixes will be brutal, and the next steps towards recovery of the institution need immediate attention. I still believe that The Managing Director and The Executive Committee of The Skylight needs to step aside so that trust can be more rapidly restored and the painful work to help the necessary restructuring of The Skylight can be done with as much dignity and grace as possible.

Unfortunately I don't believe the management of The Skylight has earned a community wide trust to support the work that needs to be done because of their short sighted belief either expressed or suppressed that, "This will all blow over."

It won't be a part of, "This all blowing over." I promise that, and I can say that because I know that there are plenty more F-U-C-K-E-R-S like me out there who are planning to continue to make noise and point to the fact that bad deeds are no longer to be ignored and swept under the table in our community. I also know that there are a lot of FUCs out there who are smart and commited and have a little bit of F-U-C-K-E-R in them waiting to burst forth.

The Cultural Alliance gets props for this articulate public comment on The Skylight and community stewardship

Christine Harris of The Cultural Alliance and I have not always seen eye to eye on everything, but I have unending respect for this commentary that is on The Cultural Alliance website:

---

The Gift of The Skylight

By Christine Harris - Posted on 25 June 2009

Hi -

I love how social media combined with amazing passion can spark a conversation that has meaning well beyond the borders of the issue that started the flame! It has been both inspirational and sad to read all of the Twitter, Facebook, press, and other communication around the recent Skylight situation. Inspirational because a community dialogue about the health and wellbeing of our future as an arts and culture sector is welcome at any time. Sad because so much blame, hurt, and deep concern for the health of a beloved organization has been going around and around and around.

I agree with Jonathan West's comments about examining the role of community leadership when 'one of us' hits a rough patch. Do we comment; support; ignore; ridicule; criticize? Do we turn inward or do we turn outward? None of us on the outside (and many on the inside) do not know the facts and issues facing an organization's leadership. Those that have a vested fiduciary and policy oversight interest - board members and donors - should be expressing their thoughts directly to the organization and assisting in whatever manner possible in making sure that their organization is serving its stakeholders and the general public well. And then, setting the stage for appropriate stewardship going forward. Many of these comments do not need to be, nor should they be, public. The policy and fiscal oversight of any non-profit rests fully with its Board of Directors - period. And, it lives with the consequences of any of its actions.

That said, these days our personal and organization lives are increasingly public and available for scruitny. Frankly, we shoulnd't bemoan this situation because we collectively have created what we now have. And, the world is only going to move faster in this direction so we had better be prepared for the ride. This transparency can be very healthy if we learn and improve or it can be destructive if we complain and blame. The Skylight's gift to our sector in all of this is the opportunity to self-examine how each of us is handling our stewardship; how genuinely open and communicative we are; how well we are serving our stakeholders; how trustworthy we are to our public. This is the bigger picture dialogue that is worth having now.

The Alliance did privately communicate very early on to the Skylight what it thought was a helpful observation. Whether or not it was meaningful to them was their decision. I say this because there may have been many other such private communications from within and without and they have made their own choices accordingly - and rightly so. And clearly the public media communication has been very available to them.

Now that they have gone public with their process - see Tom Strini's recent blog and story on Sunday - good stewardship would argue for their letting us know what they are going to be doing to ensure that the Skylight remains a beloved, well-respected and supported large performing arts institution. Clearly, a lot of people care deeply and what a true treasure that is. There's an old saying - something like; it's not that you fell down or made a mistake but it's how you get up that tells you the character of a person. The same is true for nonprofit organizations.

Discussion Question: If you choose to take it.

I'm gonna keep this brief. There seem to be a lot of opinions about my short absurdist play, ME AND FINE UPSTANDING CITIZEN. People seem to be looking to side with a protagonist in my dramatic oeuvre. I would vote that there is no protagonist. So I have one discussion question that I really, really, really, really want some discussion on folks:

Why do people say and feel one thing, and then do something else?

That's all. I'm like a 4-year-old asking questions. You may also be able to pacify me with a cookie, I will admit.

My life literally turning into an absurdist play

I love absurdist theatre, but this was ridiculous.

This morning, a had coffee at one of the many fine java joints in Milwaukee. I had coffee with a fine upstanding citizen who also happens to be involved in some sort of leadership position supporting a nice local organization that is arts related and is most always referred to as an acronym starting with U and ending with F (here's where the absurdist theatre creeps in).

This was the conversation we had, with a few dramatic flourishes, of course.


FINE UPSTANDING CITIZEN: I was looking at the upcoming season of the group featured on pages 36-49 of "Milwaukee's Live Theater" (2009, Arcadia Publishing, by Jonathan West), and frankly I decided that I wasn't going to subscribe again this year.

ME: Really, fine upstanding citizen? Why aren't you interested in subscribing to the upcoming season of the group featured on pages 36-49 of "Milwaukee's Live Theater" (2009, Arcadia Publishing, by Jonathan West)?

FINE UPSTANDING CITIZEN: I didn't much like the line up of musicals and operas featured in the upcoming season of the group featured on pages 36-49 of "Milwaukee's Live Theater" (2009, Arcadia Publishing, by Jonathan West).

ME: Sounds like good, sound, independent thinking, fine upstanding citizen.

FINE UPSTANDING CITIZEN: Yes, but then the whole blow up happened at the group featured on pages 36-49 of "Milwaukee's Live Theater" (2009, Arcadia Publishing, by Jonathan West).

ME: Yes, I think I've heard something about that.

FINE UPSTANDING CITIZEN: Yes, and I told my spouse that I knew what we now needed to do regarding the upcoming season of the group featured on pages 36-49 of "Milwaukee's Live Theater" (2009, Arcadia Publishing, by Jonathan West).

ME: What's that, independent thinker and fine upstanding citizen?

FINE UPSTANDING CITIZEN: WE'RE ABSOLUTELY SUBSCRIBING!

ME: But free thinking, good looking, community leading, you can make a difference, fine upstanding citizen, I thought you said, "I didn't much like the line up of musicals and operas featured in the upcoming season of the group featured on pages 36-49 of "Milwaukee's Live Theater" (2009, Arcadia Publishing, by Jonathan West)."

FINE UPSTANDING CITIZEN: Oh, I don't. Not my cup of tea.

ME: So why did you just say, "WE'RE ABSOLUTELY SUBSCRIBING?"

FINE UPSTANDING CITIZEN: Well I'm in some sort of leadership position supporting a nice local organization that is arts related and is most always referred to as an acronym starting with U and ending with F.

ME: Yes? So?

FINE UPSTANDING CITIZEN: Well because I'm in some sort of leadership position supporting a nice local organization that is arts related and is most always referred to as an acronym starting with U and ending with F, I need to subscribe to the upcoming season of the group featured on pages 36-49 of "Milwaukee's Live Theater" (2009, Arcadia Publishing, by Jonathan West) so it doesn't seem like I'm taking a stance about that group.

ME: But you just said you don't really care for the musicals or operas they are planning on doing?

FINE UPSTANDING CITIZEN: Oh, no, not my cup of tea.

ME: (Silence.)

The end. (really, I think this may be the end.)

Anyone wonder anymore why I started my day as a cynic?

What does Artsy Schmartsy really believe? Here's the unpopular truth.

What I believe
by Artsy Schmartsy

I believe...

1. ...that summer is better than winter.
2. ...that the current Managing Director of The Skylight and the Executive Committee of The Skylight should resign due to the negative effects of an intensely miscalculated announcement of a management restructuring that has turned into a public relations disaster. They are not bad people. They are, in fact, good people. They are well intentioned and tried to solve a problem. I think their decision might be right, but the handling of it was so wrong and their silence regarding the public outcry promotes an arrogance that I simply cannot support as a quality of an effective leadership team.
   
3. ...that The Skylight needs a huge management shake up, and this means that personal friends of mine will be faced with difficult decisions and I don't like anymore than anyone, but I know it's what's needed for the good of this community jewel.
4. ...that there is no better food than pizza.
5. ...that anyone, anytime can call me on my shit.
6. ...that women are always smarter than men.
   

That's it. Thanks for listening.

The intern girl cried at UPAF's finale yesterday, and I almost did, too

The United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF) made it's 2009 fundraising goal with an announced final total of $9,001,052. That is something we should all applaud given the sad shape of the economy. So bravo UPAF!

Highlights of the presentation included some tap dancing from Danceworks, some fiddling from Latino Arts String Ensemble (which also walked away with a $5,000 scholarship), one of those "God I feel bad for that poor sucker, but he's doing a hell of a job" presentations by Next Act's David Cecsarini in his Vince Lombardi persona talking about the similarities between football and the arts, and a heartfelt speech by Emily Vitrano who you've either seen as the fill in traffic girl on the morning WTMJ 4 newscast (where her brother Vince is a co-anchor) or onstage in town at Next Act Theatre or at Milwaukee Rep where she was recently in PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.

Emily talked about her first time being an actor as an intern at the Rep and the shuddering excitement she felt about all that. And, at the end of the speech, she cried.

Now I don't generally go in for that kind of thing. I'm more of a "it's better to make your audience cry, than to cry yourself" kind of person. But when that kid teared up, something just gripped me and I had to stiffle a few sobs so that Dave Fantle (one of the guy's behind The Bronze Fonz who was sitting next to me and who I believe to be a pretty great guy despite his taste in all things metal) didn't find my head resting on his shoulder soaking his suit jacket.

Why the tears? The celebration of our wonderful arts community I was experiencing at The Stiemke Theater in honor of UPAF's well deserved accolades yesterday was simply too much for me to bear because of the underlying feeling I've been picking up in the gathering storm of local controversies in our well-touted, seemingly openly communicative, setting-a-higher-standard arts community that it's all a bit of a sham.

When I say that it is all a bit of a sham, I'm not talking about the art. The art is generally top notch. I may not like all the programming choices I see happening around town, but I'm not going to argue with the execution. I'm even lacking the cynicism necessary to believe that management changes at any arts group will predict a decline in artistic quality. I think our arts community weathers storms well.

What I think is a sham is the public face that hides the private feelings of discontent. The celebration of great support and cheerleading for the arts hides the fact that there are a number of influential arts leaders in our community who have some forceful opinions about the state of the arts in our community, the practices of any number of arts producing organizations that have a negative or positive effect on our community at large, and the actual numbers of arts producing groups that we should think of as we think of the cultural inventory of our city.

At the UPAF ceremony yesterday, someone was awarded a plaque for service to the arts in Milwaukee. This same individual once sat across a table from me and very honestly said, "Don't you think there are too many arts groups in this city?"

I was surrounded by colleagues who I had spoken to in recent days regarding my fairly vocal expression of "this is bad" regarding the doings at The Skylight who agreed with all my assessments face to face. When pressed by me to level their feelings in a more public forum they all demure saying, "Oh, no, I couldn't take a stand on that. You understand."

I actually don't understand anymore.

By and large my moral center has always guided me to the place that says, "If you see an injustice, say an injustice." I find it hard to reconcile the fact that there are several local arts leaders who have expressed opinions of disgust to me on anything from the the debate over arts criticism in our community to the rabid discussion over not supporting a civic awards celebration of our theatre community to the really poor handling of a management restructure that is bruising the stakeholders in the Skylight's current storm.

I sat with one of the smartest arts administrators I know yesterday, and told him I was having a crisis of confidence about my life's work in arts administration. I was starting to feel like the only leader of a local arts institution (I rarely write about it, but I'm the Managing Director of The Sunset Playhouse) who will say, "This is just wrong," when something is clearly wrong. This wise and successful friend pragmatically talked about reasons that he and others wouldn't go on record when it comes to controversies within our community. Lack of information, fear of retribution in the funding community, protecting the interests of an individual institution were some of the very reasonable and very political answers this smart colleague gave me.

But at the end of the day, I don't think that's enough. When you take the public forum as a leader of the arts in our community to cherry pick the good things that happen in the arts and cite individual examples from institution to institution (as we all do), I don't fully understand why respected arts leaders in our community can't also say, "I see something that is just wrong, and I think there's a better way to handle this for the community."

If not the arts leaders in our community to say, "Okay, so and so has a problem, I think it's wrong, now let's all think about how to make this better," then who? If I were seriously making bad decisions on an institutional level as an arts leader, I know I would be ultimately happier if a colleague called me on my rug publicly than to talk around my back. But that's just the kind of guy I am.

If you play the promotion game touting all that's great in a public forum, I think you should be responsible also for participating in the community dialogue on what can be improved. We're capping our growth and ultimate richness as an arts community if we don't embrace the capacity for arts leaders to speak honestly about challenges they have, and how their expertise allows them to sometimes offer a less than flattering assessment of another institutions management practice. The ultimate goal has always been for us to be a cohesive, supportive community. Calling a spade a spade when you see it should be a quality that is more prevalent for the leaders of our own arts community or we will only be marginally good at what we do and will ultimately deserve the reputation that many outside our city have as a little burg not really to be taken seriously on a national arts scene.

I think we're better than that. I also think we're worse than that. And on both these points I will strive to be as honest as I can. I ask for my fellow arts leaders (that means institutions heads, donors, and artists) do do the same.

Dial down Skylight for a moment, Ed McMahon died

I'm thinking of renaming this blog Artsy Sklightmartsy. To avoid that rep completely, let's take a moment to recognize the passing of Ed McMahon. Talk about a guy with flaws. But at least he always admitted to them. Here's a rather drunk Ed for us all to savor.

Second Skylight Board Member officially resigns

Here's a letter from Skylight now former Board Member Pat Kraft:

The events of the last week are disappointing, unexpected, improperly handled and leave me with no other option but to resign my position as a member of the Board of Directors of the Skylight Theatre. I was honored to have participated at the Board level this past eleven months. However, I totally disagree with the new direction chosen for the future of The Skylight, of which I had no opportunity for input. Having participated on other Boards, I have always experienced group consensus and open communication; especially when there is a major decision that will have a significant impact on so many different stakeholders.

This has been a very troubling turn of events and in all good conscience, I can no longer continue on the Board.

Pat Kraft

An invitation for some positive Friday morning breaksfast vibes

This has nothing to do with The Skylight...honest. Well, a little, but it speaks more to the greater good--doing the right thing.

Hope you can make it on Friday...

Dear Artists and Art Lovers,

Recent events in our performing arts community have sparked a lot of lively dialogue. This dialogue has most chiefly been had on blogs, facebook, thru email and the telephone. As a community, let’s try and sit down face to face more regularly. An excellent idea has been proposed: a breakfast club. This summer, let’s meet once a week and talk about art in this city. No specific agenda beyond brainstorming how we can all do more to support each other and support our art in these difficult times. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to take part: all artists—actors, singers, dancers, musicians, designers, directors, choreographers, also patrons, donors, board members and even critics. Anyone who cares about art in Milwaukee. Please come.

Breakfast #1

Friday, June 26^th

8:00 am

Catalano Park, the fountain just south of the Broadway Theatre Center

BYOB: Bring your own breakfast

If you come:

Please bring along a canned good and we’ll make a trip to a food bank on the way home.

If you’d like, also bring a broom. The Skylight recently had to fire a janitor. Let’s pitch in and sweep the sidewalk for them after breakfast.

Hope to see you Friday morning!

An open letter to Eric Dillner at The Skylight

Dear Eric,

I write this letter to you, not as a patron of The Skylight, not as a past performer at The Skylight, but as a professional colleague. I think the time has come to admit something, my friend. You are in a no win situation, and conceding that is going to go a long way towards letting The Skylight start the monumental work it needs to do to steer the ship in the right direction.

This is not meant as an indictment to your character, these are just the plan facts. Since the announced management change at The Skylight here's how the scorecard looks. On the minus side:

1. Patrons have started to request subscription refunds
2. At least one annual donor who gives at a more than respectable level has publicly said they will not be doing that and are taking Skylight out of their will
3. A growing group of artists who have supported The Skylight with their talents over the years have said they will not continue to perform at The Skylight because of this decision
4. At least two Skylight Board members have resigned
   
5. The lead critic of the single major daily print and online news source in this market, the man who you and your marketing person must deal with to pitch ideas for celebratory stories about The Skylight, has just written a stinging criticism of how this has all played out and has called for your resignation.

On the plus side:

1. How about this weather. Gotta love our Milwaukee summers!

I know it's not easy to say, "I'm licked." But sometimes saying that is life's greatest grace.

I was struck reading an article from this weekend's New York Times Magazine written by Matt Bai called "Everyone a Winner? The Lost Art of Conceding Defeat." You might want to give that a read.

I'm not saying that you can't do it. Maybe you can. I'm just saying that if you love The Skylight in the way that you have expressed, then the greatest show of your love might be saying, "Sorry. It's time for me to go."

I've thought about what I would do in your shoes, and since I am a Managing Director of a 50 year old institution, too, it seems pretty clear to me. I'd step down. I serve at the pleasure of the volunteers, artists and patrons of my institution. If I displeased them in the manner of what is happening at Skylight now, I'd step down, tough as it might be.

Sincerely,

Jonathan West

Video Eight: SKYLIGHT STREET MEET HOW "THAT CHICK" FEELS ABOUT THIS ALL

That chick. You know her. She's that chick. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT cross her.

Video Eleven: SKYLIGHT DEN MOTHER SAVES THE BEST FOR LAST

Carol Jensen makes sandwiches for all tech rehearsals at The Skylight, just because. She gives money to The Skylight, just because. She regularly spends hundreds of dollars on tickets to Skylight productions, just because. No more. No more.

Video Ten: SKYLIGHT SING-A-LONG MORN TO JERK SOME TEARS OUT OF YOUR HARDENED HEARTS

What else would you expect at a Skylight protest other than a full on sing-a-long? Just try to not twinkle when you hear all these cats crooning.

Video Nine: OFFICER FRIENDLY EXPLAINS WHO TO HAVE A SKYLIGHT SHOW TUNE RALLY

This cop has game. He told us all how to peacefully protest. He can arrest me anyday.

TOM STRINI'S GRENADE!

Boom!

This fair assessment is coming from the guy who deals most exclusively with The Skylight on matters of publicity in our city's major daily news source. I'm thinking maybe there's probably going to be a conversation or two going on at The Skylight today.

Read the whole article by clicking here. But first, a teaser from Strini:

The board must swallow its pride, reinstate Theisen, and take over business management itself for a year. It must cut costs as it can and raise money with emergency energy to get through the 50th season. Then it will be time to regroup and figure out the how to structure the Skylight Opera Theatre in year 51 and beyond.

Video Seven: SKYLIGHT MORNING OF PEACE WITH JOE AND TODD

Joe and Todd are here, and they have things to say. Note the look of consternation on Joe's face. Ouch. He's not happy. Testify gents.

Video Six: SKYLIGHT RALLY ATTRACTS DUDES WHO HATE MUSIC THEATRE, TOO

This is Kurt Hartwig. He was at the Skylight Rally last Friday. Kurt likes plays with puppets and stuff like that. Not so much the musical theatre. But he showed up early on Friday to show some support for The Skylight. Even guys that don't sing show tunes on the street think this thing is wacko.

Monday Morning Alert, and a moment of reflection on The Skylight situation

I have come to discover that Tom Strini has written an article for the Journal Sentinel on this Skylight affair that should be coming out today online (don't know about the print version, yet).

I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO CHECK THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOR WHAT I'M TOLD MIGHT BE A PRETTY INTERESTING PIECE ABOUT THE SKYLIGHT AFFAIR.

Here's a link to JSOnline for your clicking pleasure. (Tom tells me that it will be in the regular online section, not on his The Old Song and Dance Blog (which is still really good and which you should read three of four times a day).

Now for the warm and fuzzy crap (I'm still coming off my Father's Day high).

Friends, there are a lot of good people involved in this whole Skylight mess.

I don't know many of The Skylight Board members, but I suspect that they are a superb group of people. Let us keep in mind that these are the people that artists in the community have been passively relying on to be the volunteer stewards of the Skylight for a long time. I publicly would like to thank them for their continuing service, and hope personally that I can work with them all at some point for a stronger, richer arts community.

Let us all think about the artists. A finer group of people you will not meet. Over the weekend, I received a pledge of $6,500 from a few artists who were willing to give money to the Skylight to help close the $200,000 gap that is being pointed to as the reason for the management restructuring that has occurred. These good people really do want to work with the good people of The Board.

Then there's the hardworking Skylight staff. Imagine going into your underpaid, overworked arts job that you have done for years because you're just gaga about producing art that impacts the life of people in your community during a firestorm like the one currently happening. Can't be easy on the old morale. My heart goes out to them all.

Then there are the peops who were let go when jobs were eliminated. I think no one would wish a job search on the worst enemy during this crazy economic time that we are all living through. Anyone of them reading this want a free lunch, I'm buying.

Let's also think about all the people on the periphery so enraged by what they have seen happen at The Skylight. Feeling a lack of power to do anything, many of them have lashed out in a "swinging-for-the-bleachers" kind of anger. A couple of days of lots of talk, lots of internet chatter, and they are realizing more and more that the primary emotion behind their energy is sadness, and all they really want is more communication about the vision behind MILWAUKEE'S Skylight (an important distinction, because it is a community asset).

I may be the first one also to say that the leading players in the drama, Bill Theisen and Eric Dillner BOTH strike me as decent men. I can speak directly about Bill, having known him for years as one of the kindest, gentlest, for souls I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. Eric Dillner is a husband and a father first, and in my estimation as a husband and a father first myself, he's got a family that really loves him, so I don't believe for a moment that he is the devil incarnate.

That all said, "WE'RE ALL STILL WAITING FOR SOME COMMUNICATION."

I've made plenty of phone calls to plenty of people, but no one is talking. It would be great to have a chat about this whole thing with someone, sometime soon.

Also, track back to Video Two: SKYLIGHT TOUCHY FEELY MOJO GATHERING QUESTIONS FROM JAMIE JOHNS and look at the Comments section of that post for some interesting perspectives on artistic management from someone who seems to know more than I do about all this kind of thing.

We are surrounded by smart people in this community. Think what all these smart people are now going to do to help make this company, and this community stronger and more unified. It boggles the mind.

Skylight Board Member's Resignation and a call for communication lines to open up

Skylight Board Member Bo Beal has resigned effectiely immediately in this obvious call for action to the Board of the Skylight to open lines of communication:

Dear Suzanne,
I am writing with sadness to tender my resignation from the board of the Skylight effective immediately. Admittedly my resignation is symbolic because I had announced several months ago that I had decided to resign at the time of this year's Annual Meeting after two terms on the board, but I wanted to send a message at this juncture that I cannot and do not agree with the recent decision to terminate Bill Theisen. Incidentally, my wife Polly who served for 16 years on the board is 100% supportive of my decision.

I am well aware of a board member's fiduciary and social responsibility and I am saddened that the decision to fire Bill was made in the manner in which it was done...solely by the Executive Committee. Last month at a full board meeting it was announced that because of the economic downturn some cuts would probably have to be made. It was not even hinted that Bill might be one of the people affected. If that had been the case I'm sure it would have prompted a great deal of discussion. I'm not sure that I would have had the wisdom or foresight to predict the amazing reaction from patrons and artists alike, but I certainly would have been one of the ones too stand up and ask if this would be the best route to take. Hindsight is always easy, but to incur the wrath of the community to such a degree does not bode well for the Skylight for I fear that we will be losing subscribers and donors to the extent that budget impacts could be disastrous.

One of the unique characteristics of the Skylight is that it has always been "family" and, as in all families, there always disagreements; however, in solid families these disagreements are worked out and the family moves forward. My fervent wish is that you are able to steer the Skylight boat through these troubled waters and I do hope that you will reach out to Jamie and others who have been so vocal to at least open up the lines of communication. All of the actors, musicians, artists, patrons etc who have been bombarding the board with their emails are the life blood of the Skylight and without them we would be would be in very tough shape. Please take heed!

Sincerely,
Bo

Robert L. Beal
Milwaukee

Spin Beal's resignation however you want, but Polly and Bo Beal have been long time supporters of The Skylight who are now clearly showing a no confidence vote in the actions of the current Board. Some may say that Beal was set to resign already, but think of it in another way. If your beloved grandfather announced he was retiring and moving to Florida, and then suddenly announced he was moving earlier than planned because the rest of the family had decided to take down all the family pictures of that beloved grandfather without discussing it with him, there might be a moment of pause in everyone's lives. Perhaps at least a little communication.

The ranting masses have been calling for Board and upper management communication for the last week and have heard nothing. Now one of the lions of The Skylight has publicly said this all stinks. Time to start talking Suzanne Hefty and Eric Dillner. Time to start talking.

Video Five: SKYLIGHT STAFF MEMBERS ARE COOL DAY

Don't fire Noel and Ryan because they were on the street at The Skylight Rally and not at their desks. You will see, they are good looking people (and good looking people always win).

Video Four: SKYLIGHT RALLY OF THE STARS

David Cecsarini, Grand Poobah of Next Act Theatre, brought his daughter Mira to show her how to do a little civil unrest in Milwaukee's Third Ward. Norman Moses, famous because I made him so in my book "Milwaukee's Live Theater", is as silent as the upper management of The Skylight.

Anyone got $10,000 to make a phone call to the Skylight?

I called the Skylight a couple of times today to talk to Eric Dillner to get some answers to questions that I have about the new vision at The Skylight, and questions about the new management structure. You know, like if I want to send a Christmas card to Eric, do I address it Managing Director, Artistic/Managing Director, or Managing Artistic Director? A boy needs to know, and I plan my Christmas Card list early.

But Eric never returned my calls. Oh, well. The website message from the Skylight's Board President says he's the guy to talk to, and I believe everything I read on the internet.

But then I noticed this article called Skylight staff cuts bring protest in The Business Journal and read that "Managing director Eric Dillner did not return a call Friday for comment."

Maybe his phone is broken. Could happen, right?

In any event, I would love to have that face or phone time with Eric Dillner, and I think I've found a way: I'M GONNA BE A STAR!

I read on The Skylight's website that when you become a STAR level donor for $10,000 or more, you get the following benefits:

• Ten complimentary Final Dress Rehearsal passes
• Opportunity to sponsor an evening performance
• Private dinner with Artistic and Managing Directors (estimated value $50/person)

See which one I'm interested in?

So for $10,000 bucks I can have dinner with the Artistic and Managing Directors. Just my luck, I bought too late. It would have been a bargain last week, getting two dudes for $10,000 when now I just get one, but what the hell, sounds like fun.

Anyone want to kick in for a little dinner chat? I'm hungry, how 'bout you?

Video Three: SKYLIGHT COFFEE CLATCH AND ECONOMIC THEORY MEET UP

Carrie Murphy is an acupuncture specialist. She sticks needles in people. That makes them feel better. She also understands economic theory. Yeah, that's a little sexy, even though I'm more of a Veblen guy.

Seems Skylight's Suzanne Hefty has called someone back

Just got this from Konrad Kuchenbach. He and John (the John in this note) are great supporters of The Skylight and Milwaukee Chamber Theatre:

John received a call from Suzanne Hefty this morning while we were out and called her back. She did not have anything new to say. John is so upset that he told her that he is taking the Skylight out of his will and will not give his annual donation this year. Konrad

Video Two: SKYLIGHT TOUCHY FEELY MOJO GATHERING QUESTIONS FROM JAMIE JOHNS

Here he is, fresh from his Skylight firing, Jamie Johns, former Resident Music Director or The Skylight. Jamie has a list of questions that he thinks deserve answers. They are not unreasonable, and they seem like questions that a lot of people would love to have answers to soon. Here's the written list (Eric is Eric Dillner, Managing Director of The Skylight, and Bill is Bill Theisen, the former Artistic Director of The Skylight):

1. What is the new artistic vision of the company?
2. How will one person do the job that two seemed to struggle with until recently?
3. Who made this decision?
4. Did Eric propose this solution to the Board?
5. What other options were discussed?
6. Why did the Board choose to hide this from the community?
7. Why did the Eric tell us everyone on the Board knew, when it was clear that some didn't?
8. Why wasn't Bill given a little time to talk to the Board himself?
9. If Bill was invited to stick around until after Marriage of Figaro, directing shows and receiving a reduced salary, why was he not given time to consider that option before this bomb was dropped? In other words, why was this handled this way?

And here's the horse opening his mouth and asking:

Video One: SKYLIGHT RALLY FOR PEACE AND LOVE

Here we go. Chris Klopatek talks about why he shows up earlier than his usual rise and shine time to support The Skylight.

The Poet Laureate of The Skylight Writings

Ladies and gentlemen, it's time that I introduced you to John Gerlach.

John is, as of late, one of those long suffering crusaders we call a public school educator. You will also see from the following is a poet. He is a whole lot more of a poet than I will ever be for sure (no surprise there for any of you who read my ramblings from time to time).

John has nothing to do with the Skylight, and is not a member of the arts community. I mean he's an artist, but not one of us show tune singing ones. I offer his well constructed words, because they are wise and soulful. We need a little soul right now.

June 19, 2009

Play On, Players, But Where, and for Whom?
By John Gerlach


The late actions of the Board of Directors for the Skylight Opera Theatre have caused great consternation among artists across the nation. One is reminded of the public outrage which has resulted from the unethical machinations of the financial community which have caused the economic disaster threatening the real welfare of so many around the globe. We feel as if we have been cuckolded like the kindly gentleman who diligently works in faith for the sake of family, church, and country, while the matron of the household entertains a lover behind the scenes. Upon discovery of this duplicity, we demand to know how, why, where, and with whom our bedfellows have been in league. Of course, it matters not whether we catch the errant bride early or late; the crime against trust is already leveled.

The public letter from the President of the Board of Directors for the Skylight Opera Theatre reads like a mournful letter from a long-suffering wife who is compelled to coldly notify her devoted spouse that she has moved on; that he should have seen this coming, if he hadn’t been so preoccupied with work; that he should be hopeful that a new beginning might be made for both of them, and glad that an impending misery has been avoided because she has taken pains to salvage what is left of a failed marriage before all would surely have been lost to the lawyers. And, that we should still be friends all the same, for the sake of the kids.

We must defend against the urge to ask, “What has been going on while we’ve been away?” For, one does not wish to know how one’s affairs, nor one’s sausages are made. Rest assured only in this: that, the active artistic community has persisted in league with a governing structure whose ambition is for the survival of the whole at the expense of its parts.

In America, we invest our life-savings on Wall Street, which is known to all as a den of thieves, yet we wail when our money is stolen. It is the story of the naïve Pinocchio over again. In other words, we are content to labor beneath the oversight of the Ivory Tower, at least so long as we are provided with resources and artistic autonomy. What’s more, our beautiful wife will enjoy the adventure of social climbing mixed with illicit liaisons only until her dowry begins to get consumed in the perennial vicissitudes of economic ebb and flow, when her fears of discovery are trumped by her fear of poverty!

We are players in need of boards; they are a bored platform in need of adventure. Or, see it another way: The players are the illicit lover who believes that the lonely wife will someday leave her husband for a life of adventure with us and our traveling troupe. But, now the wife has called off the affair, to return to the stability of staunch and respectable marriage. See how she resents that we threaten to expose her tryst with our vagabond lifestyle. Only, she knows full-well that, cry as we might, our shouts cannot reach to the heights of the lofty tower; anyway, her worldly husband shall just smile at her playful, but temporary infidelity, and watch her return savilly to the world of polite society.

Players, you trifle in the world of the cultivated man, and he’s seen you coming long before you arrived to tempt his daughters with your adventuresome ways. There once was a day when actors were denied Christian burial because of their dalliance with the devil, alike with witches and suicides. You play at a game run over your heads, in the thin atmosphere of the upper strata of society, where money floats like cream to the top.

Players, your calling of late has been to prop up a decaying theatrical form, one which defines the decaying society of the European mode of existence. You are pawns in a larger drama - one which exposes, to all who have eyes to see, and ears to hear, the ambitious King, the treacherous Queen, and the guilt-ridden Prince. Then, you take your coin and go, and quickly, too, at that. One must act out the truth with one foot in the stirrup.

Players, know that your rightful place is on the path trodden by the masses, which might lead you to the castle gate, but it is the road that is your home, and not the destination. For, wherefrom derive you the material for your performance? It is from the wretches met along your travels. The Boards of Directors whom you serve value you as you portray the life that they dare not encounter - indeed, which they are not permitted to experience, as the rabble will shut down its foolishness and scuttle its shipwrecks upon the approach of the genteel.

There reside today in every fair city a half-million souls who speak in rhyme, who dramatize murder and mayhem in our school halls and our street corners. It is they who deserve your experience at dramatic representation; it is they who need a more perfect technique for expressing the anguish and horror of life lived daily. It is among these millions that you belong, along the paths they have worn. Rally your cry not against the princess who flirts with demons, only to recoil to her boudoir at the first tonguing lick of flame. Commit yourselves rather to your time-decreed heritage among the masses of sorrow and love who flail in response to life because they have no sure means of stating their misery and joy beyond the native impulse of barely human tears. Offer to the people the language of drama, and so make us ever-more human because we have speech perfected in its skill to convey the suffering unto truth which is the watermark of tragedy. Here is your place, though there is no recompense to be speculated at. Return to the true populace, though they cannot pay upfront, for it is with them that the sterling rewards of drama are forever to be found.

Need a breather from Skylight, try Fresh Air Fund

I feel kind of like a crumb bum because I was contacted about The Fresh Air Fund's current fundraising drive a while back and didn't do anything about it. I realized in the midst of all this rancor over Skylight it might be nice to celebrate some really good stuff.

The Fresh Air Fund is totally good stuff. It is a program that was established to give kids from some of the toughest urban neighborhoods the chance to spend summer vacations in places where they can run and frolic and not worry about the corner kids capping their asses. Imagine if all the kids from Season Four of THE WIRE had taken part in The Fresh Air Fund. Different story completely for Randy and Michael, no doubt.

The Fresh Air Fund is having a fund drive until June 30 in which every gift will be matched dollar for dollar. You give a buck, they get two bucks. You give a cool mil, they get two mil. You get the pic.

Donate by June 30th and let some kids breath free for a bit this summer.

Click the link below to make a difference.

A break from Skylight for NAKED BOYS

I got a post about this show from a friend who is a friend of one of the producers of NAKED BOYS SINGING at Turner Hall this weekend.

Apparently sales are LIMP.

Movement on tickets is FLACID.

The sales report for this looks like a WET NOODLE.

(Thanks folks, I'll be here all week, try the veal!)

In any event, if you're into nude fellas singing show tunes (that's right, I'm talking to you mom) you might want to check this show out:

Fresh from the Skylight gathering and from my first phone call of the day

Great gathering at the Skylight this morning. I have video which I will post throughout the day.

We're on day three of no response whatsoever from anyone on The Board of The Skylight or Eric Dillner, the new head chief at The Skylight.

I was told (didn't see) that Eric Dillner walked into the building as the celebrants were gathered this morning and said to those who were trying to engage him, "Talk to the Board."

Then I read Suzanne Hefty's (Skylight Board President) very clear, lovely note entitled "To our valued patrons, ticket buyers, subscribers and friends" on The Skylight's website this morning which has a final line that reads:

Thank you for your continued patronage, support and friendship. If you have any questions regarding this information, the Skylight or the Broadway Theatre Center please contact Eric directly at 414-291-7811 ext. 221.

Hmmm? I choose to listen to The Board President on this one. I guess they haven't spoken yet about who should talk about these things. I'm sure it will all get cleared up, right?

So, if you've got any questions about this, do what the official Skylight website suggests and give Eric Dillner a call at 414-291-7811, ext 221. If you're like me, you might give a follow up call if you don't hear from Eric right away.

I've even been known to make more than one follow up phone call.

Say, ten. That usually gets you and answer or two.

Look for updates throughout the day.

Two more things to do for Skylight biz

There's a petition being circulated to ask the Board of The Skylight to reconsider their recent management decisions. You can sign it by going to:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/skylight/

Also, there is a Celebration for Skylight being held in front of Skylight at 158 N. Broadway tomorrow morning starting at 7:30am. 50 years is something to celebrate gang.

Another firing at Skylight

Just passing on the info from Jamie Johns, the now FORMER Resident Music Director at The Skylight. (Note to self, Gilbert & Sullivan might be the Skylight's strength, PR not so much):

My letter said: fired for insubordination and attacks on the Skylight Opera Theatre.

I couldn't make this up if I tried.

A little Thursday afternoon commentary on The Skylight

I'm a real "hate the sin, not hate the sinner" kind of guy. That's why its disheartening to see what is happening in the rhetoric at The Skylight.

I will start off my thoughts by saying that I entered this discussion because I believe it is a community discussion. I don't believe it is a discussion about one person being better than the other. I don't believe that there is an evil plot at work.

I do believe that a change that a group of people wanted or needed to make was handled poorly. Perhaps as poorly as you can handle this kind of change.

It may be heresy to even suggest this, but we've not really brought up the possibility that the people who were fired at Skylight may not have been good at their jobs. I'm not suggesting that they were, and frankly I don't have an opinion about that. But the current history might be a little revisionist due to the monumentally bad handling of this change and how people who are just simply really fine and wonderful people were let go in the worst possible manner in a very delicate arena.

I just got off the phone with George Tzougros, Executive Director of The Wisconsin Arts Board, who contacted me from Seattle at the American for The Arts Conference to get the low down on what's happening with this whole Skylight mess. George passed on something that Bill Ivey, the former NEA Chairperson mentioned in an address to the conference attendees that struck me about this situation. Mr. Ivey was talking about how the conversation at the conference often relates to how everyone involved in the arts around the country is talking about the need for change. Ivey went on to say that the change that folks in the arts are looking for often means "we want things to stay the same, just better."

Perhaps part of the reason for the enormous discomfort with this flap at The Skylight is that there's a lot of internal hoping and praying for something that exists only in imagination. Has The Skylight been thriving? That's open for speculation, and you can spin all the numbers however you want. The real tragedy of this situation is that there was an assumption on the part of the Skylight Board that the community was ready for (and had been prepared for) the news of this new restructuring plan.

We don't yet know anything about how The Skylight plans to thrive under a singular management leadership structure. At this point we can all just assume that the plan is locked away in someone's desk drawer at 158 N. Broadway, and as soon as someone finds the key, they'll let us all know how it's going to work. If indeed the conspiracy theorists are right and Eric Dillner has plotted to become the Artistic and Managing Director of The Skylight, then I say he is to be looked at with awe and wonder for the major set of balls he has in his belief in being able to do both jobs well. I've tried to do that with a much smaller company, the former Bialystock & Bloom, and it is an all consuming job that will kick anyone's ass. Clearly my balls were not as big. Good luck, Eric Dillner. Good luck Skylight Board of Directors. Good luck Skylight staff. I know you will need it.

As for those who have been fired, the future is uncertain for them. Not a great place to be, and my thoughts go out to all of those folks, good and decent individuals all.

But let us also consider for a moment the artists, artisans and administrators left at The Skylight who are charged with carrying out the plan to make The Skylight vibrantly approach and execute their 50th year. I would argue that there is even greater uncertainty for those folks. I don't think anyone who is struggling through this tricky economy can fault the pros remaining at The Skylight for holding on to the jobs that feed and house their families, all while working through a week of indecision that I would never wish upon anyone.

Perhaps the shiny goal for the future is known to the internal corps at The Skylight. And perhaps we will know more about it in the coming days. The silence of the key players is not altogether surprising, but it is somehow disheartening.

I must point out that there has not been complete silence from the internal players regarding this off stage drama. On my own personal front, a Skylight Board member contacted one of the Board members of the organization I serve with great honor, The Sunset Playhouse. That Skylight Board member leveled displeasure with some of my comments as a blogger in regards to my position of authority within another arts group in the region. I am lucky to work alongside a fabulous Board at The Sunset Playhouse full of members who constantly exhibit a refreshing amount of candor and open communication with me, so this conversation was immediately brought to my attention.

My response to this Board to Board tete a tete was to listen to my Board member, acknowledge the Skylight Board member via e-mail correspondence and invite that Skylight Board member to communicate directly with me in the future. I look forward to any and all conversations personally with The Skylight Board regarding the unfolding Skylight story.

Clearly the community wants The Skylight to thrive. There's just some disagreement about how that will take shape. Looking into the future is an imperfect exercise. Personal histories can inform how we imagine life unfolding, and let's face it, everyone has an opinion about art. I for one know that somehow we're all going to live with what happens in the coming days regarding The Skylight. We'll all have our opinions about the approach and the means of achieving success, and we'll never end our debate over what success really means. But I hope the rhetoric can find a way to rise above the personal accusations and character attacks that even I have started to feel.

More later. There's always more, right?

A further point of clarification about subscribers withdrawing their season tickets at The Skylight concerning my personal reputation and fragile ego

Briefly, I wanted to be clear about one thing: I posted SCOOP: Skylight Subscribers Are Uniting! as a bit of information but not to personally advocate this action. I'm not a subscriber. But I plan on buying tickets to the GREASE Sing-a-long held at Skylight July 31 or August 1. I may not ever go see a Gilbert & Sullivan, but GREASE will always be the word.

Reflections on what we do when we get to the other side of this Skylight mess

Celebrate. Yeah, there, I said it. Celebrate.

People will think I'm cracked in the head, but when push comes to shove, the fight at The Skylight is about keeping a company ticking forward. The Board of The Skylight wants nothing more than for The Skylight to thrive. Yes, that might mean financially, but that's their choice. Does anyone really know what "The Skylight" is anymore?

Maybe it's really a question of what we as a community can help The Skylight become. Let's not forget the fact that The Skylight is preparing to CELEBRATE (that needs to be kept in mind) their 50th Anniversary Season. Though I'm a believer that all theatrical movements have a shelf life (The Skylight of lore had its shelf life expire many years ago when they moved into a fancy big building that they had to manage), you have to applaud an institution for being around for 50 years.

Whatever happens in the next few days at The Skylight, one thing remains certain: they are not closing their doors. Far from it. Whoever is leading the company tomorrow, next day or a year from now needs to be given a chance. We may not like the decisions that this or that leader make, but we have choices in that regard (we can just not see certain musicals that The Skylight chooses to do).

I've not been a fan of many of the programming choices at The Skylight over the past 10 years, but I've been a fan of The Skylight. Will that change? Who knows? That's the blessing and curse of change--uncertainty.

I hope that the Facebook pages and Twitter accounts will go viral in the future with things like, "Holy shit, I can't believe this mind blowing performance I just saw." These are tools people. We can use them to level our disgust, but we should also think about using them to acknowledge good work while its happening.

But if you ask me if this whole restructuring was handled well, I'll tell you, "Hell no." Bad unroll, could have been handled better, end of story.

What do we really want?

This post from Kurt Hartwig hits the nail on the head. I'll have some of my own commentary later, but the question we really should be asking about The Skylight is: WHAT DO WE REALLY WANT?

This really isn't about Bill Theisen. This really isn't about Eric Dillner. This is about the experience we hope to have in relation with, as a worker for, or as a patron of The Skylight. Follow this link and you'll read a story that seems pretty plausible right now to some of us:

http://piecesofplastic.blogspot.com/2009/06/grim-reality.html

SCOOP: More breaking Skylight news that just doesn't sit right.

Reliable sources have confirmed for me that a three option scenario was offered to Bill Theisen in regards to this monumentally poorly handled restructuring plan at Skylight.

I received this letter from Jamie Johns, Resident Music Director at The Skylight, who is leading a charge to force the Board to reexamine and reverse their decision:

Members of the board,

I just learned that Bill was offered to be kept on with a reduced salary through the top of January next year, directing Marriage of Figaro, Plaid Tidings, and Barber of Seville. Then Bill was to step down saying it was his own decision. This makes the Board's and Eric's intentions all the clearer. And it means that this undesirable media blitz could have been completely avoided, had the Board chose to present the restructuring to the community and the staff in a different manner, with an eye towards why and how this is artistically viable. It also shows how little of this is about money.

This makes it all the more imperative that this decision be reversed now. Eventually, the Board will have to face that this has been not only poorly handled, but a big mistake. The sooner that realization is made, the sooner this can possibly be fixed. At this point, the community is not at all ready to drop the issue.

Thank you,

Jamie Johns
Resident Music Director

I have been told that these were the three options presented to Theisen:

Option 1: Stay through MARRIAGE OF FIGARO a with reduced salary, and then resign on his own accord.
Option II: Stay through MARRIAGE OF FIGARO with an even greater reduced salary and be able to say that he was fired.
Option III: Just leave right now

I freely admit to having a lean relationship with journalistic integrity, and that allows me to say certain things. So I will.

This is the perfect demonstration of how NOT to unroll a plan for change. These types of leadership transitions are a fact of life. I am not opposed to change, change is good, but you gotta do a lot of front end work if you want that change to happen positively. And there is a way to fire someone with dignity and grace (yeah, firing sucks, no doubt). This does not seem to be the case with the situation at Skylight.

I'm sure there's more to unfold with all of this today. Let's just say for now, big thumbs down on handling this plan by the Skylight Board (or Executive Committee if they acted alone, in which case, they've got some explaining to do).

The Skylight Board issues a statement

This was posted on The Skylight's website late in the day. Read. Think. I'll discuss later:

Board Response to Organizational Restructuring

June 17, 2009

The organizational restructuring announced yesterday by Skylight Opera Theatre is in direct response to the current national economic downturn and a projected deficit of $200,000 in the 2009-2010 season. Five positions were eliminated at the Skylight to bring organizational expenditures in line with anticipated earned and contributed revenue. The positions of artistic director, company manager, box office manager, assistant box office manager and custodian were eliminated, reflecting cuts across departments and seniority levels. Having struggled with an operating deficit last season and having already cut $400,000 from the 2009-2010 budget, the only option remaining was to eliminate staff positions and impose a furlough.

This was a very difficult decision, which was not made in haste or without recognition of the history many of these staff members have with the Skylight. This is an emotional time for everyone. We understand that there are some very strong feelings and comments that have been expressed about the restructuring. While we cannot address each and every comment, we appreciate those who have provided support and constructive criticism.

When Managing Director Eric Dillner joined the Skylight last year, he inherited a series of serious financial challenges. His goal continues to be to maintain the Skylight’s artistic excellence, but to do so in a financially responsible manner. The restructuring decisions were made by the Executive Committee of the Board, not by any one individual. The personal threats that have been made against Eric are inappropriate.

We want to express our sincere appreciation for Bill Theisen’s work as artistic director. Bill is a brilliant stage director and discussions are underway to contract him as a stage director in the 2009-2010 season.

The Skylight’s mission remains to deliver world-class music theatre productions to the Milwaukee community. The Board is confident that Eric and the staff are well qualified to meet these challenges and carry the Skylight’s organizational and artistic vision forward.

Suzanne Hefty
President
Skylight Opera Theatre Board of Directors

A press release from The Skylight

I was just forwarded this press release regarding Skylight doings. All is clear now, right? (Ironically stated, of course):

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information contact
Eric Dillner, Managing Director
Skylight Opera Theatre
414-291-7811 ext. 221
ericd@skylightopera.com


Milwaukee, Wisconsin (June 16, 2009) – Skylight Opera Theatre today announced a
major administrative change as part of an organizational restructuring in response to the
economic downturn.

The position of Artistic Director, held for the past five years by William Theisen, has
been eliminated due to the economy. All future productions at the Skylight will be
directed by contracted stage directors from across the country. Artistic coordination and
administration will now be part of the responsibilities of Managing Director, Eric Dillner.
Dillner assumed the Managing Director position at the Skylight in 2008. He was
previously the General and Artistic Director at the Shreveport Opera, and had a
successful operatic singing career.

“For the past five months the Board, the staff and I have been exploring every possible
means of cutting costs and finding efficiencies in our operations. We had hoped to avoid
personnel cuts, but a projected $200,000 shortfall in our 2009 – 2010 budget could not be
addressed any other way,” said Dillner. “With the UPAF campaign goal down 15%, our
own annual campaign seeing a similar fall-off, and our endowment significantly impacted
by the decline in the markets, we needed to become a leaner organization.” Additional
staffing changes were made throughout the company to better align the organizational
structure with our current business model.

During his tenure, Theisen provided artistic and stage direction on numerous Skylight
productions while continuing his active work as a free-lance director and actor with
companies nationwide. Highlights of his Skylight work include the stage direction of The
Mikado (which was televised on PBS), La Bohème, and The Pirates of Penzance; and
appearances in lead acting/singing roles in Tintypes and The Producers.

“We wish Bill all of the best. He is a brilliant stage director and has been a charismatic
leader of our artistic department. He has a huge following in Milwaukee. We are
currently in negotiations concerning his possible return to direct productions planned as
part of the 50th anniversary season. Our goal remains to deliver the high quality music
theatre productions that audiences have come to expect.” Dillner said.

# # #

Some more from someone kind of excited about change at Skylight

I hope we all come to feel the same way Heidi Mains does. This was a message I got from Heidi via Facebook:

Heidi Mains at 11:53am June 17

Although the current changes seem drastic, & come as quite a shock, I really encourage all of you to dive into the next season & support "our" Skylight Opera Theater! Give them a chance with this plan... They do have a goal & mission, & it's a smart strategy.... Putting Community development & outreach first!... Which is always a good thing! :-)
I know this because I met with them last week, and learned of their mission. Their newer team, led by Eric, is focused, and motivated!
If we're looking for them to succeed in our community, we should give them a chance.

Here's my response:

Jonathan West at 11:58am June 17

Heidi, this sounds great. Can we get more details? That's really what we're asking for. The communication of this change might simply be what is the error. Perhaps it is a great plan, but we're all left to speculate without any concrete inspiring thoughts to let us buy into this vision that you seem to be very excited about. I think we are all looking to possess the same enthusiasm that you so eloquently have suggested might be working in the background right now.

A point of clarification about recent staff downsizing at The Skylight

I posted info that in addition to the elimination of the several positions at The Skylight, making mention of a key box office position. I was a little off base on my info. Here are some clarifying remarks from Kristin Godfrey, Skylight's Marketing Director:

Jason (assistant box office manager) and Kelley (box office manager)'s positions were eliminated as salaried positions. They were offered hourly positions which they chose not to take. I am taking over the box office operations and have had many conversations with both companies to ensure I am dealing with their needs and learning everything I need to know to make sure their service doesn't suffer.

SCOOP: Skylight Subscribers Are Uniting!

A group of Skylight subscribers (some of them loooooong time subscriber, let me tell you) are organizing a group effort to cancel their subscriptions to The Skylight in light of the news of the perceived short sighted decision by the Board of that company to restructure the management of Skylight without a clearly articulately plan on why that is a good idea.

They are serious about withdrawing their support to the Skylight and I have been asked to post news of this effort and serve as a clearing house for other subscribers wishing to support this united effort. Bully to them for making it known through some pretty impactful means that this decision seems more reactive than proactive.

If you are a Skylight subscriber and you wish to join the organized effort to cancel your subscription send me an e-mail to jonathanwest@artsyschmartsy.com. I will forward your contact info on to the organizers and you can be included in this group effort.

The Skylight Letter Writing Campaign

There is an effort going in right now to contact the Board of The Skylight regarding the news that came out of the company yesterday regarding a new management structure, and the elimination of the Artistic Director position (the true steward of the mission of the organization in my opinion). If you would like to write a letter, here's the e-mails to send them to:

david.b.williams@sbcglobal.net, diane.weaver@na.manpower.com, fbartels@chw.org, gjorgensen@vjscs.com, howard.miller@assurant.com, jyovanovich@gehl.com, jeff@mmtadv.com, jplunkett8500@att.net, jina.amaro@harley-davidson.com, jeflanagan@michaelbest.com, jwhein@gbf-law.com, johnstollenwerk@yahoo.com, jvice@chw.org, Jmwa@execpc.com, kbuono@quarles.com, emory1488@mac.com, tobymiller@aol.com, gwrenz@gmail.com, mjf@quarles.com, michaelbula@northwesternmutual.com, michelle.mattson@we-energies.com, PLKraft319@yahoo.com, pcronin@rwbaird.com, psweeney@pscapitalpartners.com, pstuckey@ra.rockwell.com, rbeal1080@aol.com, rbell@johnsonbank.com, sgodfrey@firstweber.com, ssachdeva@koss.com, suzmail@wi.rr.com, tkurtenbach@deloitte.com, tamccuen@ra.rockwell.com, shiely.vince@basco.com


Here's the letter I wrote as an FYI:

Dear Skylight Board Members,

The news of the firings of the Skylight's Artistic Director, Company Manager, a key box office employee and one of the building custodians came as a huge surprise to me when I became aware of it yesterday. I'm sure by now that you are becoming keenly aware that it is not a popular decision, one that has in effect shattered company morale and made the current staff of The Skylight question all institutional actions to come.

I will offer that I have some questions, too. I ask these questions not as a performer (I have had the great fortune of having performed at The Skylight many times in the past 15 years), but as a ticket buyer and a donor.

What has always impressed me about The Skylight has been it's desire to adhere to a strong artistic vision. This is to say, The Skylight always seemed to know who and what it was, and though I didn't agree with all the artistic choices coming down the pike, I always knew they would be interesting.

A management shake up like offers many not entirely constructive speculations because in the announcement of this new plan there has been no expression of what the forward vision of The Skylight is going to be. The elimination of the Artistic Director position in its current iteration makes one believe that the Board is throwing all of its confidence into Eric Dillner, your Managing Director, to set the artistic vision of the institution. If that is the case, there are many lingering doubts I have about what is transpiring at The Skylight.

What is Eric Dillner's vision? What is The Board's vision? What are the plans for The Skylight? How will this make The Skylight a stronger company? What are some of the exciting plans for the future? These are some questions that I would love clarity on before I consider buying another ticket to The Skylight, offering another donation, or recommending that friends and associates support your company.

I'm a big proponent of plans, but the gap in the expression of The Skylight's plan and how the current firings are the best answer to all the available options is wider than I or others in the community feel comfortable with now. As stewards of the mission of The Skylight I expect that you will all issue some kind of statement regarding your decision to support the newly orchestrated management structure. I haven't turned my back on The Skylight, but it is clear that there is much work that needs to be done on communicating how this is a long term fix that has the best intentions of the company in its interests.

I respect the difficulty these types of budget bounds decisions present. I understand change needs to be made, I'm just concerned that this is the right change.

Please offer some elucidation for us all so that we in the community who love to buy a ticket and send in our modest yearly donation to The Skylight can feel confident that there is strong visionary leadership going forward. I respectfully ask that you collectively determine and communicate that vision to the community so all of what has just currently transpired starts to make a little more sense.

With great hopes for the future of The Skylight,


Jonathan West

A Shattered Skylight

If you have been connected in anyway to social media in the last 12 hours or so, you will have heard the news that the Skylight has fired its current Artistic Director, Bill Thiesen. Less reported ranting is that the current Company Manager, Diana Alioto has also been let go. I don't think I've seen a Facebook mention of the further staff cuts of Jason, a key box office employee, or Ralph, the night janitor, but they've been let go, too.

The reason, of course, is money. That is the answer that has been given. And it is a plausible answer. I don't believe there is an arts group in the nation that is legitimately embracing the term "thriving" in these days of national economic trumoil.

This plausible answer doesn't sit well with me or others, however. I won't get into the merits of inspiring artistic vision, or legendary leadership of the Skylight by any artistic director, company manager, box office manager, or janitor. The fact of the matter is, the Board of the Skylight has supported some recommendations (or come up with these on their own, a possibility, too) that have in effect now turned Bill Thiesen into the slain Jesus Christ. Yes, I am suggesting that he has been nailed to the cross, hung out to dry, and a community already maligned has thrown their efforts into rallying around this now messianic figure to say, "Hey, there's gotta be a better way than offing this really nice guy."

If you ask any of your pals that work in corporate America about the Skylight's downsizing, they might shurg their shoulders, look at their new severance offer from a mass round of layoffs, and say, "Welcome to the real world." There's no doubt that killing off some members of the top management and realigning your organization is a way of the world across the employment spectrum right now. But your same coporate America friends might also mention that there are some other options.

Morale and staff confidence at The Skylight has been severely damaged, as has been made evident by Jamie Johns, the pianist and often times conductor of Skylight productions, who is the de facto leader to make the Board of the Skylight reconsider their decision and reinstate Bill Thiesen. A question must be asked of the Skylight staff at this time, of course, and that is, how far are you willing to go to turn the ship.

A $200,000 fix in a $3,300,000 budget isn't just a one year thing. That's a call for some long term measures to be taken. I think that inspired leadership, one that embraces the idea that the Skylight staff is a "family" (an idea that is talked about much right now, and one I would add is true with all the requisite trappings of dysfunction that any family has), would gather that corps of workers and say that tough times call for tough decisions across the company.

These tough decisions might include across the board salary cuts to already modest wages. These might include changing full year production contracts into seasonal contracts (including the Artistic Director, Production Shop heads, and Stage Management staff). Programming cuts like the Skylight's cabaret series, some education and touring programming, and artist training programs might also be on the chopping block.

I would also like to point out as a past leader of a former resident company at The Broadway Theater Center that the elimination of a key box office position is one that really makes me scratch my head. The resident companies at the Broadway Theatre Center (Milwaukee Chamber Theatre and Renaissance Theaterworks) rely on The Skylight Box Office for their ticket services. I know first hand that one of the most important aspects of running a theater company is good, efficient box office service. I've been told that the Skylight's Marketing Director will now assume the duties of the box office employee that has been let go. If I was a leader of one of the resident companies, I would make sure that my box office service was not going to change before I wrote any more rent checks made out to The Skylight.

The reality is that you can't get blood from a stone. The news of what has just happened is not the beginning of the story, it is the end in a way. Cuts have been happening at the Skylight for months in a response to how to make the budgetary future more reasonable. Bill Thiesen himself was planning on directing most of the shows in the Skylight's 50th Anniversary Season to save costs on hiring outside directors. Cuts have been a way of life at Skylight all throughout this past season. Those were fatty cuts. And then came the muscle cuts. Now, we're clearly at the bone cutting stage.

Working a budget for a nonproft arts group is not pretty thing sometimes. But working a budget with a "family", including them in your plights can be an arts administration epiphany. I've seen staffs rally around a challenge, create new and better ways to save costs, and dig down and do more work for less money simply because they believe in the work of an institution.

I mention that there are other options, not only as an observer, but as a 20 year veteran of arts administration. But as that same 20 year veteran of arts adminstration I know that it's really too late. It does seem that Eric Dillner, The Managing Director of The Skylight since the beginning of this season, has convinced the Board that this current iteration of a management model is the way to make things work. Either that or the Board has given him the mandate to make this change. What is clear, is that there was not a strong Board belief that the Artistic Director, Company Manager, Box Office Manager and Night Janitor should be kept on. If there was support for those positions on a Board level, then someone would have spoken up. Clearly, that ain't happening.

Eliminating an Artistic Director position along with Company Manager, Box Office Manager and Night Janitor smells of a plan for huge restructuring to come. If I was a current Skylight employee, I'd be brushing off my resume. It feels like the upper management at The Skylight is looking to take the company in a different direction, one that might be profitable, but one that might ignore the vision of the company that legends like Clair Richardson, Colin Cabot, Joan Lounsberry and others worked so diligently to foster for generations of opera and musical theatre fans in Milwaukee.

I don't support any of the decisions being made by the Board and Managing Director of The Skylight right now because I believe in a different kind of Skylight, one that is scrappy, breaks some rules, and dangles the hope of really thrilling stuff happening before your eyes. I also freely admit that I can't say with a great amount of conviction that I've seen those qualities exhibited in full force at the company in the past several years, but I always sensed that the flickering flame was lurking somewhere inside the building. I think it might have just been extinguished.