More African Americans are attending shows at the Muny. What are your plans to enhance outreach to the African-American community in the upcoming season and beyond?
Relevant programming is certainly the biggest driver when people make the decision to attend The Muny, and without a doubt I will continue making sure that every segment of the St. Louis community is considered when we plan our seasons. As an arts organization our outreach and responsibility to the African-American community extends beyond our stage. We must continue to expand our educational programs in elementary and middle schools to reach even deeper into the African-American community and in my position I will continue to build relationships between the Muny and the schools in this community. As arts programs become increasingly scarce in the school system we must take the lead in offering this unique and necessary learning opportunity to young people. Each summer we also hire hundreds of high-school age students to staff our theatre and to also intern with the variety of trades that build, design and produce our shows. Having had the opportunity to personally hire theatre staff and now administrative staff and interns, I have very proudly watched a number of young men and women start their first ever jobs with us only to blossom into very accomplished young professionals and students.
While your position at the Muny is year-round, during the season you are feverishly busy. How do you adjust your life and handle those crazy weeks? How do you prepare for that hectic period during the offseason?
Luckily, The Muny has been a part of my summer in one way or another since I was 16 years old, so spending evenings there with thousands of people during our performances is second nature. I try to travel as much as possible in the winter and early spring to catch up with friends and spend time with family knowing that come June its 16 hours, three meals a day at The Muny! I also work with phenomenal team individuals. We’re close like family and many of us have worked together for a long time. Having those types of relationships with the people I’m around really makes it easy to handle the pace of the season.
You’ve travelled extensively, but call St. Louis your home. What advice would you give to other young African-American professionals who may be hesitant about starting a career in St. Louis?
I’ve had the opportunity to visit and spend time in a number of places but St. Louis will always be home. Twenty or 30 years from now I truly believe we will look back on this current time in St. Louis and recognize that this was time of tremendous growth and evolution in this city. While this entire city shares the responsibility of moving us forward, young African-American professionals have an incredible opportunity to lead this charge. We must serve as examples for the younger generations and represent a source of pride for our larger community. We are a generation that understands and appreciates the unbelievable value of collaboration. There exists a shared desire among many young professionals, to bring our cultures, professions and interest to the table with those unlike ourselves in the pursuit of encouraging a more “global” community. This is needed and treasured in this city right now. Regardless of profession we have the opportunity to affect some real and tangible change here as a part of the next phase of growth in a city that is already a truly amazing place to be.
