 Henley Street Theatre (HST) and Richmond Shakespeare (RS) executed a Memorandum of Understanding, which outlines a plan to merge the operating management of the two companies effective in the next fiscal year. With unanimous approval from both boards, the move creates a long-term collaborative partnership, intended to result in an organizational merger within two years. Under the agreement, the companies will retain their current boards of directors, share an artistic director and a managing director, and co-produce a joint season under their existing names. The combined company will feature greater efficiency in operations and lower overhead expenses.It will leverage the strengths of both organizations in order to realize a shared vision of artistic excellence.A strategic partnership between the two companies is not a new idea. “The pieces have long been a good fit,” observes RS Board President Brendan Williamson. “Richmond Shakespeare has a wonderful Summer Festival in partnership with Agecroft Hall and strong education programs. Henley Street has a proud history of producing thought-provoking classic and contemporary plays and education programs geared towards backstage student internships.” Patrons and donors had also suggested the possibility of a partnership in recent years, and the companies’ co-production of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale in 2010-11 was an artistic and box office success. As Williamson notes, “The timing wasn’t quite right the first time around, but all that changed late in 2012.” At that time, HST’s Artistic Director James Ricks had announced to the board his intention to leave the company to pursue out-of-town career opportunities, and RS found itself in need of additional management expertise. The two companies promptly resumed their dialogue. “This time,” says Williamson, “I was very optimistic that we were positioned to pursue a lasting partnership. Our missions were already in sync, and now our needs were too. [HST Managing Director] Jacquie O’Connor’s management acumen and [RS Artistic Director] Jan Powell’s artistic leadership are complementary.”
“It just made sense to revisit the idea,” said HST Board President Raphael Seligmann. “James Ricks has done tremendous things for Henley Street and the larger Richmond arts community. He’ll never be replaced. But I also knew that in Jan Powell Richmond Shakespeare already had an artistic leader with the appropriate reverence for language and spirit of adventure that we prize in our company. I had heard that Richmond Shakespeare was seeking a managing director, so I thought we each had a lot to offer the other–and, ultimately, Richmond.” Leaders in the Richmond arts community are excited by the potential of the joint organization and have expressed their support. “This is a merger that theatre patrons will celebrate and applaud,” said John Bryan, president of CultureWorks. “Donors’ investments will go even further in enabling these two wonderful organizations to enrich our community.” Foster Billingsley, Executive Director of the Virginia Commission for the Arts, also applauds the merger, “These two organizations have been an asset to the Richmond arts community for many years. This merger will not only strengthen both companies but it will allow them to do greater things as a combined organization. We wish them the best of luck as they move forward as one theatre company.” |
Two of Richmond’s Top Theatre Companies Join Forces
Related Items
