A New Job in a New World: How the Marcus Center Navigates Uncertain Times

A New Job in a New World: How the Marcus Center Navigates Uncertain Times

By Ryan Albrechtson

2020 has been a challenge for all arts leaders. It’s hard to imagine running an arts organization during a pandemic. It’s even harder to imagine moving across the country to run an arts organization at the start of one.

“My first day was March 9th,” shared Kendra Whitlock Ingram, the new President and CEO of the Marcus Center. “My first meeting of that day was to talk about whether or not we were going to be able to present our Broadway show [The Play That Goes Wrong] the following week.”

Ingram replaces Paul Mathews, who served as President and CEO for 21 years. “I’ve only seen three performances at the Marcus Center,” said Ingram as the Marcus Center has been closed for in-person performances since March 16th. “We had to lay off a number of staff, and most of the remaining staff is working remotely… but we still have security in the building 24 hours a day, and we still have engineers that go in every day to maintain the building. It’s interesting, it’s not like you can just shut the lights off and say we’ll come back when there are shows.”

Much of Ingram’s first few months on the job were focused on securing a PPP loan and other crisis management tactics. As those items began to play out, it became clear that this shut down would be longer than expected. “Remember when we thought this was only going to be a couple of months?”

The Marcus Center team then shifted gears to focus on ways they could use this time to update their facility, and bring people back into the venue feeling confident and safe. One of those safety measures was a complete redesign of the seating in Uihlein Hall, including adding aisles on either side of the hall in the orchestra level as well as more space between rows - making it easier to pass by other patrons. This project is set to be completed by early 2021.

“We’re moving on parallel tracks and scenario planning for different things,” said Ingram. “But we are very enthusiastic and optimistic about bringing people together for live performances indoors in 2021.”

Another renovation that was made was to their outdoor space, adjacent to the Pavilion Amphitheater. As the weather improves, Ingram anticipates opportunities for a lot of live performances outdoors as well.

“We want to get to the point where there is enough immunity in the community to get back to live performance, because that is the nature of what we do… bringing large assemblies of people together to experience this communal and visceral experience,” said Ingram.

Ingram leads these efforts at the Marcus Center with a vast amount of experience. Most recently, she served as the Executive Director of the Newman Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Denver. Before that, she served as the VP of Programming and Education of Omaha Performing Arts, an organization she describes as very similar to the Marcus Center.

“I was very excited to be part of a performing arts center that balances the Broadway commercial entertainment with the cultural programming, as well as being home to a lot of other resident companies,” said Ingram. “I also really love Milwaukee… I’m really glad to be here.”

While Ingram and her team focus on safety and reopening, they place an equal focus on advancing racial equality in the performing arts. “It was a big step for the board to appoint me to this position,” said Ingram. “I’m the first female and person of color to ever run the Marcus Center in its 50-year history.”

“If we can’t serve our community when we come back to business, then we need to really think about what our mission and values are,” added Ingram.

As the Marcus Center works towards its goals, support from the community is more important than ever. One way patrons can support the Marcus Center is through their Raise The Curtain campaign. Starting at just $600, patrons can have their name placed on a seat in the newly renovated Uihlein Hall, and have their own little piece of helping the Marcus Center safely reopen.

Established in 1969, the Marcus Performing Arts Center is the premier performing arts community gathering space in Southeastern Wisconsin. The Marcus Center continues to build bridges between diverse members of our community through high-quality arts entertainment in the region and the state. Learn more about their campaign, safety efforts, and focus on racial equality by visiting marcuscenter.org.