Skylight recreates full time artistic director job; Theisen commits through 2013
Bill Theisen has agreed to serve as the Skylight Opera Theater’s artistic director through the 2012-2013 seasons, his ninth season as artistic director at the Theater. He has been the artistic director since 2004, but his position was eliminated in 2009 due to budget restraints.
"Bill is a terrific asset to Skylight,” said John Stollenwerk, Skylight board president. “He is a top quality artistic director as well as a great ‘face’ of Skylight. The Board and I are pleased that he has agreed to continue through the 2012-13 season."
In early 2009, the Theatre eliminated Theisen’s full time position in an effort to cut costs. Since then, the Theater’s strategic planning committee has decided to re-create a full-time artistic director position.
"The artistic director at Skylight guides the artistic vision of the organization and promotes the collaboration needed for our innovative, world-class productions,” said Laura Emory, committee chair. “A full-time artistic director allows Skylight to provide the unique variety and quality of performances that our audiences enjoy."
"I am thrilled that the Skylight will return to having a full time artistic director- it’s the way this company best functions and I know from experience it is mandatory for the continued artistic excellence as well as artistic growth for the long term,” Theisen said. “When I leave the Skylight in June of 2013, I will have completed my ninth year as artistic director and feel that the timing will be right for me to embark on the next chapter in my life. It is also the perfect time for new leadership at the Skylight, to hopefully pick up where I have left off and take the company to new heights."
YMCA honors networking org with diversity award
The YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee has awarded Professional Dimensions, a Southeastern Wisconsin networking organization for professional women, with the Potawatomi Bingo and Casino 2011 Diversity and Inclusion Award. The award recognizes individuals or groups for their commitment to affect positive change in the areas of diversity and inclusion in the metro Milwaukee community.
“This award is a perfect example of what can happen when a group of dynamic women comes together for a common purpose. It certainly is gratifying that the community is recognizing our hard work, passion and commitment. I am filled with pride for our entire organization,” said Mary Dowell, Professional Dimensions president and director of corporate community relations for Johnson Controls.
As a part of its community affairs efforts, Professional Dimensions established a Race Relations Initiative to better understand racism and race relations in the community and to take serious action to improve the quality of life in greater Milwaukee.
The award will be presented at the 14th annual Martin Luther King breakfast celebration at 7 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 17 at the Frontier Airlines Center, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave. For more information about the event, visit http://www.ymcamke.org/YMCA/MLK2011.php.
Personnel
Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity has hired Brian Sonderman as its new executive director. Sonderman, a CPA formerly served as Pastor at Metrobrook Church in Milwaukee.
Jewish Family Services, Inc., has hired Juliana Bruno as its director of outreach. Bruno has been involved in outreach for well over a decade, working predominantly with non-profits and private schools from the West Coast to the Midwest.
