The Toledo Repertoire Theater, has been staging theatrical productions consistently since 1933, as is proudly displayed on their webpage and every scrap of paper bearing the troupe’s logo. Since 2009, however, the Repertoire’s artistic leadership has changed hands several times, and soon will again.
In the near future the Rep will say goodbye to Steven Burnette, current Artistic Director, who announced at a Toledo Rep Board Meeting on Saturday, April 6 that he would resign from his position on an undisclosed date. At that meeting, the Board decided to keep him on payroll until Saturday, April 30. Now that Burnette’s last paid day has passed, the future of the Artistic Director position — and with it the direction of the historic troupe — is as uncertain as precisely when Burnette will leave.
Changes at the top
But the Artistic director position has stood on shaky ground for some time — Burnette is the third person to man the helm since the departure of Gloria Moulopoulos in 2009, who directed for the better part of the 00’s. Afterward, the position passed to local director Lee Krahenbuhl, who directed for a single season. Current board president Brad Smith served as interim director until Burnette was hired in 2011.
The artistic director position is financial as well as creative. Jim Norman, current costume coordinator at the Rep, was also in contention for the position at the time Burnette was vetted—according to Norman, the Rep board most wanted “someone who would be a strong fundraiser.” Burnette had promise in this regard: he acted as executive producer and director at the financially successful City Theater in Biddeford, Maine before founding the Legacy Theater Company in Saco, Maine.
Burnette carried that east coast enthusiasm into his tenure at the Rep. For instance, he proposed a new $2.5 million building to house the theater in. Regardless, the frequent reassignment of the position has coincided with a series of budget cuts within the Rep’s programming — the Young Playgoers program was excised in 2012, and the salaries of several designers and directors have been cut for the upcoming season. The proposed new theater was never acted upon.
Heading back East
Burnette, in an email correspondence with TCP, said his reasons for leaving the position have nothing to do with finances, rather his family is moving once again to the east coast. Burnette is a Northwest Ohio boy, but his wife, Sarah, works out of Boston. Both Burnettes travel frequently for work—Burnette lives in Findlay and commutes to his office at the Rep—and the rising cost of travel has made his staying here untenable. “While I would prefer to be in Ohio, my desire to see my wife happy and not as stressed trumps my wishes. So we have put our house up for sale,” Burnette said.
“We’re sorry to see him go, he brings a lot of energy to the theater,” said Rep business manager, Kathy McGovern
Burnette will continue to work on a volunteer basis. “Once we have an offer on our house, that will serve as my two week or thirty day notice, whatever works best for the organization.” In regards to his tenure in Toledo, Burnette said “We have had a wonderful time working together, and it’s been a blast to be part of the organization. If circumstances were different… I would stay in a heart beat.”
