A note from Maryellen H. Gleason, President & CEO

This past Monday I had the opportunity to attend a session hosted by Phoenix Theatre featuring author and Kennedy Center Director, Michael Kaiser. The session was attended by over 100 arts managers, board members and arts enthusiasts. Bob Booker led the Dick Cavett style interview as the two were seated in overstuffed arm chairs on the stage. Overall, the event was designed to promote both Mr. Kaiser’s book, The Art of the Turnaround, and to promote thinking about the most critical factors leading to continued success of arts organizations in the United States. While there are ten success factors contained in the book, the emphasis of the lecture, and of the book, is that good art and good marketing are the most important.

I was pleased that after the presentation I had the opportunity, along with our event hosts, Michael Barnard and Dan Schay, to meet Mr. Kaiser backstage. I had the chance, ever so briefly, to speak about the planned three-year collaboration between Phoenix Theatre, directed by Michael Barnard, and The Phoenix Symphony, conducted by Michael Christie, to present three great American musicals in concert format featuring The Phoenix Symphony. The photo here shows all of us backstage after the presentation. We are kicking off the collaboration on September 10 at Symphony Hall with Meredith Wilson’s Music Man.