Live Arts made clear when managing director John Gibson announced his resignation that it would start 2010 with a pair of new leaders. In July, Satch Huizenga accepted the role of artistic and producing director. According to Live Arts, Huizenga will make his premiere alongside new executive director Matt Joslyn, a 33-year-old native of Columbus, Ohio. John Conover, chair of Live Arts’ Board of Directors, says that Joslyn was selected from among a group of more than 40 applicants.
Joslyn worked previously as executive director of the State Theatre of Ithaca and director of education for the Columbus Children’s Theatre. He also served as executive director of Mansfield, Ohio’s Renaissance Theatre from May 2007 until January 2009, when he was let go “because of economic reasons,” according to Mansfield TV station WMFD. During recent visits to Charlottesville, Joslyn caught performances of Performance Exchange Project’s Our American Ann Sisters and Gibson’s production of Gypsy.
"It’s great to be coming to a theater that can both do classics in an interesting way, and also take risks on brand new work that the community really gets behind," said Joslyn during a phone interview today.
As executive director, Joslyn will oversee budgeting and development for Live Arts. Asked how to steer a local theater during a time of economic distress, Joslyn responded, "You’ve got to be extremely relevant to your community. You have a not-for-profit status because you serve your community—that’s why you exist and why you’re tax exempt."
Huizenga, who spent time with Joslyn last weekend, offered some thoughts today on Joslyn’s appointment and Live Arts’ two-pronged leadership structure: "He’ll be the person creating budgets and handling development and so forth—with my input. I’ll be the guy working with directors and actors in the theatrical spaces—once again, with his input. It’s got to be hand-in-glove, or it won’t function properly."
Check back next week for more on Joslyn, Huizenga and Live Arts in 2010.
