West Suburban Theatre Blog [WSTB] asked J. P. Quirk a few questions about his role as President of Albright Theatre.
WSTB: Would you share your background and experience in theater or arts management?
Quirk: I went to a Performing Arts High School, and then majored in theatre in college. To be completely honest though, most of my experience has been “self-taught”. I have been doing professional and community theatre since I was in High School and I suppose I just paid attention and had a desire to want to learn everything I could. I have been on tiny little stage to major film sets, but in the end, it is all just people working together to get the job done.
WSTB: What led to your appointment to Albright Community Theatre President, and interest in leading the organization?
Quirk: I have been with the Albright for just about 22 years now. My “appointment” as it was. is honestly a blur. The reality is, the theatre was just months from closing their doors and not being able to pay the bills. I had stepped away for some time to work on other projects and was asked to come back and participate as a member of the board of directors. Little did I know that I would be in the position I am now. Theatres ebb and flow all the time. Many people choose to walk away from the Albright at that time when things were hitting rock bottom. I didn’t want to see a theatre that has offered me some of the best opportunities of my life “go under”, so I dug in and tried to make the best decisions I could at the time to rebuild the Albright.
WSTB:. What do you believe are the primary responsibilities of a Community Theatre President?
Quirk: To be completely fair, the theatre is run by the board of directors and is a group effort always. I am just there to facilitate the conversation. At board meetings, I don’t even get a vote unless there is a tie. I work very hard to make sure that everyone has a voice and make sure I am keeping the train on the tracks. I don’t like to say that the President is the “face of the theatre”, because we all are. If my one job is to just be a leader and facilitate the skill sets of everyone around me than I am doing my job.
WSTB: How much of your efforts does fundraising and securing sponsorships for arts organizations consume?
Quirk: Our publicity manager handles that end of the theatre and she is doing a wonderful job. But, like any community theatre we rely on far more than the tickets sales to keep us up and running. Countless hours are spent on securing other funds and continually building relationships with other organizations.
WSTB: How do you approach building and maintaining strong relationships with our community, including volunteers, donors, and local government entities?
Quirk: Being on the third floor of the Batavia Government Center is probably the toughest relationship to navigate overall. We have been in our current space for almost 25 years. There are so many more rules and regulations that we have to abide by being in a municipality where our stage sits directly above the Mayor’s office. I find the best approach has always been to try and be our most authentic selves. We know who we are and what we are offering. We try to stay as involved as possible with The Batavia Arts Council, Chamber or Commerce, and any other local group that supports the Batavia Community.
WSTB: What strategies do you use to ensure that our community theater remains inclusive and accessible to a diverse audience?
Quirk: Referring back to what was said in the last question. It is crucial to be as authentic as possible. We are very aware of what type of community Batavia is, and we know that at times it may not seem like the most diverse community. We try and combat this by making sure that our season of shows touches on a wide range of subject matters and themes and offers opportunities for a diverse group of actors to join our theatre. We want to tell stories that expand far beyond what may be seen in Batavia alone.
WSTB: Community theaters often face financial challenges. How do you work to ensure the financial stability and sustainability of Albright Community Theatre?
Quirk: I find that the easiest way to ensure that we are “making ends meet” is to select shows that audiences want to see. We are a theatre. We need to sell tickets to do more shows. Gone are the days where the powers that be were selecting shows that THEY wanted to be in. That doesn’t pay the rent. Of course, it is imperative to do shows that actors will want to perform in, but we must find the balance of doing shows that are important to the performers and the audience alike. A big name show might put us in a position where we can do a more obscure show or one that is less known. But there is always a risk.
WSTB: Community theatre heavily depends on volunteers. How did you motivate and lead them?
Quirk: I think the best way to motivate and lead volunteers is to create an environment that people want to be in. We are so much more than just a theatre. We are a small family, and when you outwardly express and share that, people innately want to be a part of that family
WSTB: How do you promote and market productions to attract a larger audience and enhance community outreach efforts?
Quirk: We try to do our best to check all the boxes. Advertise on social media, hang posters up in local establishments, publish articles in newspapers – even interviews just like this. Every little bit helps.
WSTB: How do you stay updated on industry trends and best practices in community theater management?
Quirk: Read, Read, Read. We just constantly keep up with what is going on in the theatre community. That’s really all you can do. Start in the community, move on up to regional theatres, and land on the great white way. Take all of that information and process it and find what works best for your theatre.
WSTB: What innovative ideas or projects do you have in mind that you believe could benefit Albright Theater and its community?
Quirk: Well, we just got a huge grant from two local charitable organizations, and we decided to use that to purchase new LED lighting. We just built a new raised sound booth as well and this now places us in a position where we can do things we have never done on stage. The audience response has been incredibly positive.
WSTB: How do you balance the artistic and financial aspects of running a community theater, ensuring both creative excellence and fiscal responsibility?
Quirk: I find we have a really good grasp on the coming and going of our money. We have started to utilize more and more of social media sales and things of that nature. When we buy furniture or what not at a garage sale or thrift store, we tend to “flip” it and resell it. We are not holding on to things like we used to. We are not a costume shop or a prop house. This also allows people to do new things on stage and not feel that they have to use the same couch that has been used 20 times before. Our treasurer is also amazing and keeps incredible book and always keeps us on track with spending.
WSTB: What strategies do you use to engage and involve Albright members and volunteers in decision-making processes and theater activities?
Quirk: We are at a place at the Albright where it literally “takes a village” (or community to be more exact). From the rehearsal process, to building the sets, to selecting the shows; we are constantly collaborating and trying to figure out what is best for the theatre. Whether it be standing over the workshop table looking at a set drawing to determine if we can actually build that or sitting around a table 15 people deep at the local restaurant, we are always sharing and laughing and engrossed in the goings on of the theatre. That is what makes it so great – we are all invested in its success.
WSTB: What is your vision for Albright Theatre?Quirk: I want it to be a place where people can come and find a home. It did that for me so many years ago. I want people to be enjoying the Albright long after I am gone and feel they have a place where they can plant some roots and have some of the best experiences of their lives, and maybe make some amazing friends along the way.