4 minute read
We Survived, Now It’s Time to Thrive
Preliminary renderings by Beta Group include a pedestrian plaza and an outdoor stage in front of the theatre. The project supports the vision of a growing cultural center downtown, adding to the vibrancy of the area and giving visitors another reason to make the city a vibrant cultural destination.
Last June, The Hanover Theatre’s chairman of the The last year provided an opportunity for our board, Steve Joseph, talked about his vision for organization to take a step back and restructure so the organization’s future during our weekly Behind that we could position ourselves for the future. Chris the Scenes radio program. His term began just a Marrion joined our strategy and leadership team Main Street - Streetscape Improvements October 2019 few months before the pandemic hit. At that time, his vision was to continue expanding our offerings and to increase the diversity of our staff, our shows earlier this year as vice president of advancement. With over 20 years of experience working in the arts, Marrion has an impressive record working in and our audience. He maintained that the more development for Boston Lyric Opera and YoYo Ma’s people we involved from the community, the better Silk Road. Most recently, he served as assistant dean our organization would be able to fulfill its mission at his alma mater, Boston University’s College of and vision. He also wanted to make sure that we Fine Arts. In a recent interview, he shared some of stabilized the theatre’s finances in an extraordinarily the things that inspire him in his new role including, challenging situation to ensure our reopening once “Sometimes extraordinary opportunities come along, the pandemic passed. totally unexpected, and that was the opportunity to come and join the team at The Hanover Theatre “From my perspective, the board chairs, members and Conservatory. I am excited to be able to work of the board who have served, did a tremendous in a place where I can help dig into those bigger job of building the theatre to one of the premiere questions as well as contribute to the success of the theatres in the country. To me, my legacy is asking organization.” how do I maintain that? How do we expand that? How do we make it stronger? And I think the other Theatre Creates Community piece that’s important is to expand the support of The questions that Marrion especially enjoys the theatre to maintain its long-term viability,” said discussing include how the arts transform a Steve Joseph, Board of Directors Chairman. community and change the way we can envision our future. It was exciting for him to see how The A year ago, we had no idea how an extended Hanover Theatre and Conservatory transformed the shutdown would affect Worcester’s vibrant cultural landscape in Worcester while connecting people scene. Around the world, the creative sector has who otherwise might not seem to have anything in been devastated by the pandemic, with many common. organizations forced to close their doors and countless artists unable to work. We were equally Thanks to the hundreds of generous individuals and mindful of the toll on our audiences at a time institutions who supported our Resiliency Fund, we when, more than ever, we needed the sense of were able to offer virtual and hybrid conservatory connection and community that the arts provide. classes so that our students could continue to experience the transformative power of the arts. We But as artists always do, we found a way, with your redesigned our partnerships with Worcester Public help. Schools so that students could attend performances
Worcester, MA
and conservatory classes remotely. We also created some of our most imaginative and exciting theatre productions, from our filmed version of A Christmas Carol Reimagined (with screenings in the BrickBox Theater) and a socially distant Edgar Allan Poe Double Header, to THT Reps’ upcoming production of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar on Worcester Common this August.
Thank you!
Thanks to the generosity of Veronica and Howard Wiseman, we had the opportunity to do the Ides of March Match to support free public performances of Julius Caesar this summer.
We are so grateful for the extraordinary outpouring of support that we received over the past year. We are eagerly looking forward to thanking you in the best way we know how: by providing an unforgettable experience from the moment you walk through our doors. Your support continues to be critically important in maintaining our historically and culturally significant theatre and providing education and outreach programs that benefit our community. All contributions are 100% tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Find out how you can help at TheHanoverTheatre.org/support.
Listen to the full interviews or read highlights about how Steve and Chris became involved and their personal connections to the performing arts on our blog.
thehanovertheatreblog.org/ behind-the-scenes-with-stevejoseph-board-chair
thehanovertheatreblog.org/ behind-the-scenes-with-chrismarrion-and-looking-ahead-tothe-future
“We really feel this is an opportunity for people to understand that everybody can be a supporter of the arts. The arts are a thing that we all make happen. People in Worcester are very generous. There’s a real sense of investment in knowing that when we support the arts, we’re getting something back. I’m thrilled with this community support.“
-Julius Caesar Ides of March Supporters Veronica and Howard Wiseman
2021 Auditions
SAVE THE DATE!
