When managing director John Gibson told C-VILLE in May that he would retire from his position at Live Arts on January 4, 2010, he left a few aspects of the local theater’s future open to question. Among them: Which understudy would step up to embrace a leading role as Gibson took his leave from the stage?
"Here’s the central fiction of Live Arts: That it’s a one-man show, that I am Live Arts," Gibson told C-VILLE. "Whenever I encounter that, I always push back, I always correct people, and point instead to Charlottesville as the success of Live Arts."
Fiction or no, Gibson’s retirement leaves a few prominent roles—artistic director, fundraiser, public relations contact—up for grabs. But, true to the spirit of Gibson’s quote, a local and Live Arts regular has already stepped forward to claim one of Gibson’s most significant gigs. In a press release received today by C-VILLE, Live Arts announced that Satch Huizenga accepted the position of producing artistic director.
Sharing the stage: Satch Huizenga (center, in The Pillowman) accepts the role of producing artistic director at Live Arts.
Huizenga, who carried the title of Productions and Operations Director until this announcement, also has a history as both an actor and director with Live Arts. He has appeared in shows such as The Pillowman and directed productions including Our Lady of 121st Street.
Huizenga’s new gig is no managerial monologue, however. The press release says that Live Arts "will move forward with a dual leadership structure…[that] will consist of a producing artistic director and an executive director." The theater plans to post an ad to attract executive director candidates, with a hope to hire by early November.
