As many of you know by now, the Powers That Be at Miltown's 50 year old Skylight Opera Theatre placed themselves squarely in the center of a firestorm--or shitstorm, for those who prefer messier imagery--last week when they unceremoniously crap-canned--couldn't resist--artistic director William Theisen, company manager Diana Alioto, box office manager Kelley Arlt, assistant box office manager Jason Hames, and night custodian Ralph--sorry, Ralph, I couldn't find your last name in any of the resources I dug through for this post, but if I had you'd have gotten full billing, man. Though the financially troubled theatre has made other personnel cuts over the past months due to the bad economy, this last round has gouged deep wounds that are clearly not going to heal quickly, if at all.
While the reaction of the theatrical community, supporters and donors of Skylight, and interested members of the general populace has been laced with rumors as to the actual underlying reason for the elimination of these five positions, particularly that of artistic director, what really sparked the inferno is the fantastically horrific way in which it was handled--à la closed door session--proving once again that poor communication and/or silence is the sure path to follow if your goal is to commit suicide without making it look like suicide so your beneficiaries can cash in on the insurance money.
The incident has solicited so much backlash that it's brought Jonathan West--a.k.a. Artsy Schmartsy--out of semi blogger retirement and he's making his thoughts known fairly freely and almost as if he isn't the current managing director of the Sunset Playhouse--a position that makes him an insider of traditional theatre, which commonly translates into towing the line and cheering like a manic Pom Pon girl who knows that she's taken her anorexia too far but just can't stop starving herself because the other girls will blackball her or beat the hell outta her or both. Welcome back to healthy side, Artsy! And, no, those weighty words of analysis don't make you look fat.
Anyhoo, the list of those joining the fray grew by leaps and written bounds with Ben Turk, Kurt Hartwig, Tony Clements, and a whole plethora of commenters on their respective blogs. ThirdCoast Digest also picked up the story, as is their duty. As for those still entrenched in the foxholes of old media, both Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's music and dance critic Tom Strini and theatre critic Damien Jaques posted items, to which we say, "Hey, thanks for doing your job!"
As the story gained attention, the Skylight's resident music director, Jamie Johns, headed up an effort to get the people responsible--i.e. the Executive Committee, including relatively new managing director Eric Dillner--to come clean and reconsider their job cutting decision. Johns was then promptly fired for, and I quote the termination letter he received and Artsy published, "insubordination and attacks on the Skylight Opera Theatre." Well, well, ain't thems some strong words? I gotta tell ya, kids, I didn't even know the term "insubordination" existed in the lexicon of those working in the arts. I mean, if ya want complete and total obedience from drone-like underlings, the Army's been lookin' high and low for folks who think just that way. (Please do not leave comments whining that I don't support the troops, 'kay? I’m simply pointing out that that's how the military currently goes about its business.)
Very quickly, a petition was created and a protest/celebration was organized and carried out last Friday morning on the doorstep of Skylight. Power to the Peeps!
Response? Board prez Suzanne Hefty posted a letter telling everyone and anyone with concerns to call managing director Dillner, who's now slated to take over the responsibilities of artistic director, making his title a very long and ponderous one. Nothing like relying on a disinterested party to give ya the straight dope, eh? Many have called and, to my knowledge, none have received a callback thus far.
Rebuttal? Robert L. Beal, a two-term board member, decided to fast-track his planned resignation and issue it immediately. His letter is right on and, truth be told, a pretty sad read.
Today, in a show of outright clear thinking--theatre gods, save us!--MJS' Strini penned the outline of a credible scenario that would have helped the musical theatre and Dillner avoid this whole PR debacle. But the failure of not being open and transparent from the beginning--not to mention the continued stonewalling--has left both to face a stark reality that may lead them into a pit of despair, where they will loving stroke a commemorative plaque honoring the Skylight's 50th Anniversary Season of 2009–2010 while wistfully insisting, "I coulda been a contender," Gilbert and Sullivan style.
Comments