Interview with Workshop Theatre Executive Director
As below, the website for the alt-weekly paper I sometimes do reviews for has been redesigned, so I'm posting a couple of things here. This was a Q+A I did last year with the new leader of a local theatre company.
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Interview with Workshop Director Jeni McCaughan
by August Krickel, June 15th 04:46pm
There’s a not-so-new face in the executive director’s office at Workshop Theatre: longtime volunteer and former interim administrator Jeni McCaughan. McCaughan was born in Ohio, grew up in Virginia and majored in psychology at the University of Tennessee; she later studied at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa.
Her first experience in theatre was as part of an elective class at UT, in costuming, “pretty much sewing buttons on costumes between very rushed costume changes.” Her interest was renewed when a friend took her to see Sordid Lives at Workshop Theatre in 2006.
Workshop’s fourth executive director since 2008, McCaughan accepted the position in March and hit the ground running. Below, McCaughan shares some thoughts about her new position and Workshop’s future in an edited interview conducted via email.
Free Times: How did you become involved with theatre in Columbia?
McCaughan: I started volunteering as a member of the Friends of Workshop Theatre. I helped with many projects, including writing thank you notes to the cast and crew of the shows, painting the bathrooms, refinishing the lobby floors -- a lot of the “polishing” around the theatre that otherwise goes undone.
FT: You filled in several times as interim administrator; at what point did you think this might be a challenge to take on permanently?
McCaughan: I first worked as the interim director when Nancy Brooks left (in 2008.) My intention was to only be a transition to the next director. I wanted Workshop to have the best person for the job sitting in that office, and I knew my background didn’t involve grant writing, which is an important aspect of the job. So I helped train Elfi Hacker, who stayed for about nine months before leaving to pursue other interests. I was again brought in to keep the doors open and the lights on. The search committee looked at a few other people, but they kept coming back to me. I guess they liked what I was doing.
FT: Do you see this as a high-stress job, or is transition natural for a small not-for-profit?
McCaughan: The job requires you to wear a lot of hats, and to keep a lot of balls in the air. It can be very demanding, but it can also be very rewarding. I love watching the process of live theatre from the building of the sets, to rehearsals, to finally seeing opening night where all the hard work of the casts and crews finally come together. I think the recent turnover was really just an unfortunate series of events for Workshop. I can’t say it was because of one thing or another -- this position just isn’t for everyone. I think maybe I was just meant to be the executive director, because I kept getting drawn back here.
FT: You now have your hands full not only running a theatre, but managing an ongoing capital campaign. Can you update us on how that’s progressing?
McCaughan: I’m very excited about the future. We have a bunch of plans for fundraisers, which kicked off recently with the Broadway and Barbeque event. Workshop is currently using the Elmwood location for the acting school and warehouse, and is looking into hiring a professional fundraiser to give our capital campaign a boost.
FT: Do you think the Elmwood location will be able to tie into the arts communities on Main St. and in the Vista?
McCaughan: [Board president] Jack Jansen looked at over 200 possible sites, including many on Main Street, before we ended up with the Elmwood location. The neighboring communities are wonderful, and are very excited about having us as a neighbor. I like the ease of access to the Elmwood property. People in downtown Columbia can get there easily, but it also is right off of 126 and 277, so it’s just as easy for our patrons in Irmo, Lexington and the Northeast. To have a state-of-the-art community theatre just minutes from both the Vista and Main Street can only be a benefit. I see so much potential for the Elmwood area as an extension of both places.
FT: At one point, USC was ready to begin development of the existing Taylor mansion property for a new Law School, but those plans are on hold; has this given you some breathing room?
McCaughan: Our current lease with USC runs through 2017, which isn’t as far off as it sounds. Although USC hasn’t given us a move-out date, we are moving forward with the mindset that we’re a few years away from having to be out.
FT: How is Workshop weathering the recession?
McCaughan: The recession has been a little tough on fundraising, but I have to credit our play selection committee for putting together a good slate of shows each season. Ticket sales remain steady. We always strive to have a good mix of shows between musicals, dramas and comedies, so that there is something for everyone. I’d like to see every show sell out and be held over, but more importantly I want our patrons to come and enjoy a night at the theatre with their family and friends.
FT: What thoughts do you have on the current funding "crisis" in the arts?
McCaughan: I think it’s such a shame, really. As a community, when you start to lose your arts you lose your culture and your identity. The arts are where our creativity and imagination grow, both through performing and observing. Live theatre offers an experience that movies and TV can’t match. You connect with the performance so much as an audience member. The cuts to the arts represent such a miniscule portion of the budget for the state, but have such a huge impact on the local arts community.
FT: Workshop was created more than 40 years ago by some very young visionaries. Any change of mission now, with a new generation at the helm?
McCaughan: The principles that led to the founding of Workshop Theatre remain in place: Workshop was founded as a director’s theatre, meaning that directors are encouraged to submit plays that they are interested in directing, and these shows are given a priority when slating the season. I think the founders of Workshop Theatre would be very pleased with the seasons we have had recently, and the quality of the shows that we have put on. We may be a community theatre, but we strive to create as professional a show as possible. Once we can raise the money and break ground, then people will be amazed at what Workshop Theatre has in store. There are so many great plays out there, and so much talent in Columbia -- it really is an exciting time to be involved in theatre in Columbia.
.
............
Interview with Workshop Director Jeni McCaughan
by August Krickel, June 15th 04:46pm
There’s a not-so-new face in the executive director’s office at Workshop Theatre: longtime volunteer and former interim administrator Jeni McCaughan. McCaughan was born in Ohio, grew up in Virginia and majored in psychology at the University of Tennessee; she later studied at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa.
Her first experience in theatre was as part of an elective class at UT, in costuming, “pretty much sewing buttons on costumes between very rushed costume changes.” Her interest was renewed when a friend took her to see Sordid Lives at Workshop Theatre in 2006.
Workshop’s fourth executive director since 2008, McCaughan accepted the position in March and hit the ground running. Below, McCaughan shares some thoughts about her new position and Workshop’s future in an edited interview conducted via email.
Free Times: How did you become involved with theatre in Columbia?
McCaughan: I started volunteering as a member of the Friends of Workshop Theatre. I helped with many projects, including writing thank you notes to the cast and crew of the shows, painting the bathrooms, refinishing the lobby floors -- a lot of the “polishing” around the theatre that otherwise goes undone.
FT: You filled in several times as interim administrator; at what point did you think this might be a challenge to take on permanently?
McCaughan: I first worked as the interim director when Nancy Brooks left (in 2008.) My intention was to only be a transition to the next director. I wanted Workshop to have the best person for the job sitting in that office, and I knew my background didn’t involve grant writing, which is an important aspect of the job. So I helped train Elfi Hacker, who stayed for about nine months before leaving to pursue other interests. I was again brought in to keep the doors open and the lights on. The search committee looked at a few other people, but they kept coming back to me. I guess they liked what I was doing.
FT: Do you see this as a high-stress job, or is transition natural for a small not-for-profit?
McCaughan: The job requires you to wear a lot of hats, and to keep a lot of balls in the air. It can be very demanding, but it can also be very rewarding. I love watching the process of live theatre from the building of the sets, to rehearsals, to finally seeing opening night where all the hard work of the casts and crews finally come together. I think the recent turnover was really just an unfortunate series of events for Workshop. I can’t say it was because of one thing or another -- this position just isn’t for everyone. I think maybe I was just meant to be the executive director, because I kept getting drawn back here.
FT: You now have your hands full not only running a theatre, but managing an ongoing capital campaign. Can you update us on how that’s progressing?
McCaughan: I’m very excited about the future. We have a bunch of plans for fundraisers, which kicked off recently with the Broadway and Barbeque event. Workshop is currently using the Elmwood location for the acting school and warehouse, and is looking into hiring a professional fundraiser to give our capital campaign a boost.
FT: Do you think the Elmwood location will be able to tie into the arts communities on Main St. and in the Vista?
McCaughan: [Board president] Jack Jansen looked at over 200 possible sites, including many on Main Street, before we ended up with the Elmwood location. The neighboring communities are wonderful, and are very excited about having us as a neighbor. I like the ease of access to the Elmwood property. People in downtown Columbia can get there easily, but it also is right off of 126 and 277, so it’s just as easy for our patrons in Irmo, Lexington and the Northeast. To have a state-of-the-art community theatre just minutes from both the Vista and Main Street can only be a benefit. I see so much potential for the Elmwood area as an extension of both places.
FT: At one point, USC was ready to begin development of the existing Taylor mansion property for a new Law School, but those plans are on hold; has this given you some breathing room?
McCaughan: Our current lease with USC runs through 2017, which isn’t as far off as it sounds. Although USC hasn’t given us a move-out date, we are moving forward with the mindset that we’re a few years away from having to be out.
FT: How is Workshop weathering the recession?
McCaughan: The recession has been a little tough on fundraising, but I have to credit our play selection committee for putting together a good slate of shows each season. Ticket sales remain steady. We always strive to have a good mix of shows between musicals, dramas and comedies, so that there is something for everyone. I’d like to see every show sell out and be held over, but more importantly I want our patrons to come and enjoy a night at the theatre with their family and friends.
FT: What thoughts do you have on the current funding "crisis" in the arts?
McCaughan: I think it’s such a shame, really. As a community, when you start to lose your arts you lose your culture and your identity. The arts are where our creativity and imagination grow, both through performing and observing. Live theatre offers an experience that movies and TV can’t match. You connect with the performance so much as an audience member. The cuts to the arts represent such a miniscule portion of the budget for the state, but have such a huge impact on the local arts community.
FT: Workshop was created more than 40 years ago by some very young visionaries. Any change of mission now, with a new generation at the helm?
McCaughan: The principles that led to the founding of Workshop Theatre remain in place: Workshop was founded as a director’s theatre, meaning that directors are encouraged to submit plays that they are interested in directing, and these shows are given a priority when slating the season. I think the founders of Workshop Theatre would be very pleased with the seasons we have had recently, and the quality of the shows that we have put on. We may be a community theatre, but we strive to create as professional a show as possible. Once we can raise the money and break ground, then people will be amazed at what Workshop Theatre has in store. There are so many great plays out there, and so much talent in Columbia -- it really is an exciting time to be involved in theatre in Columbia.
.