| A NEW ERA AT NEXT THEATRE!
by Jason Loewith on 10/12/2008 02:05:00 PM
After working with all of you - artists, patrons, colleagues, donors and friends - for six years, I'm so proud of how far Next Theatre Company has come. How remarkable that a community so diverse and vibrant welcomed me with such kindness, and supported me in all that I did at the theater... together, we really grew this organization to a place of strength and national reputation.
We've become a class act. So it's no surprise that Next Theatre has completed a nationwide search to bring a new Artistic Director on board with all the passion, commitment, talent and integrity we need to grow even more: Jason Southerland. On the opening night of Lisa Kron's WELL - November 17, 2008 - I'll officially hand over the reins to Jason, who is busily laying plans for your theater's future. You can read more about him on our News Page (and please do, because his credits are superb and inspirational). 
Jason Southerland (right) with Managing Director Kevin Heckman
But I'd like to take a moment on this blog to publicly thank our Board, staff and artistic associates, who took part in one of the most transparent and enriching executive searches in which I've ever been involved. That is especially due to Board President Judy Kemp, who has been my partner since day one. She led a search process of great complexity and integrity, and despite our disagreements, we all emerged feeling more strongly about the institution's future. All of us owe a debt of gratitude to Judy.
The process began six months ago, and utilized the talents and commitment of so many people - not to mention the dozens of colleagues in Chicago and nationally who gave us leads and made suggestions about the kind of temperament we'd need to start fresh. The thirty Board members, staff and artistic associates who vetted the 100 candidates we considered at different points in the process worked harder than we had any right to expect... because they all care so deeply about this institution's future, and believe so fully in its vision: to become a national destination for artists and audiences who believe that theater can promote awareness and provoke change with more power than any other medium of expression. This critical decision was made so much easier than it might have been by the fact that all of us shared that passion and optimism.
Optimism, you ask? In times like these? Well, none of us would be involved in the arts if we weren't humanists at the bottom of it all... we each believe in the perfectability of the human experience, and that's why we do what we do.
Whenever I read our vision statement, in fact, I'm reminded of an early religious teaching, from when I was (believe it or not) considering rabbinical school. I can't remember the teacher - perhaps it was Hillel? - but I remember the essence: we will never achieve absolute goodness, but we must nevertheless strive for it; we must always keep our feet on the path to righteousness, despite the knowledge we cannot attain it.
We've achieved a great deal in my six years to work towards our theater's vision. But we're not there - we've only been on the path. I feel absolutely confident that Jason Southerland has both feet on that path, too, and he will keep us pointed firmly in the direction of our vision. I suspect he'll get us a lot, lot closer to our goals.
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The cooperation, respect and affection from the Next family is simply a reflection of how you have treated all of us. I'll miss you, but wish you the best of luck in your future work and hope that our paths will again cross.
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