Performance Network Theatre, founded in 1981, was Ann Arbor, Michigan's premiere professional Equity theatre. It produced a wide variety of dramas, classics, comedies, Pulitzer Prize and Tony award-winners, many of which were World or Michigan Premieres. Its professional season included five to seven main stage productions. Other programming included seasonal productions that ran in repertory over the holiday season, the Northern Writers' Project—a week-long playwriting intensive, children's programming, the Fireside Festival of New Plays, the Open Table Series, the Open Stage series, music and more.
On December 18, 2015, the Theatre announced that it would close at the conclusion of the year.[1][2]
Overview
Performance Network was a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that began its tenure in Ann Arbor in 1981. Performance Network became Ann Arbor's professional theatre in September 1997 and built an elegant theatre in the heart of downtown in September 2000.
Performance Network's primary stage, the Shure Theater, was an intimate space that seated 139 patrons.
History
David Bernstein and Jim Moran founded the Performance Network Theatre in 1981 as an arts collective. In addition to Bernstein and Moran, active collective members in the playwriting group included Lyn Coffin, Davi Napoleon, Judith Ottmar, Al Sjoerdsma and Rochel Urist. The theatre evolved into a nonprofit corporation in the mid-eighties. After the departure of the original founders, the organization continued to produce and present experimental, original and socially relevant work under the cooperative direction of Linda Kendall, Annemarie Stoll, Johanna Broughton, (and in time, Peter Knox). Eventually, the early 1990s saw departures from the artistic staff leave the artistic direction in the hands of Johanna Broughton, who (with her husband Dan Walker, along with Carla Milarch and David Wolber) led the theatre from the 'Warehouse Years' to professional status and in 2000 moved it from Ann Arbor's Washington Street location to the corner of 4th and Huron, near the Kerrytown district. In 1997, Performance Network secured a contract with Actors’ Equity and established itself as Ann Arbor's professional theatre. In doing so, it was able to
Increase the reputation of the Network by placing it in a higher tier of theatres nationally
Gain access to plays of nationally recognized merit, unavailable to community theatres
Increase artistic quality by hiring more experienced actors, directors, and designers
Gain listing in respected theatrical publications and presentation by participating in the Michigan Equity Theatre Alliance, the National New Play Network, and Theatre Communication Group
Expand the audience base by gaining press coverage in Southeastern Michigan publications.
In 2003, direction of the theatre was turned over to Milarch and Wolber. Under Milarch and Wolber, Performance Network excelled at choosing a wide range of artistically challenging shows and began receiving multiple awards for artistic quality. In order to continue producing high quality work Milarch decided to join Wolber in the Artistic department. In 2012, Performance Network switched to a dual leadership structure and hired Erin Sabo to partner with Wolber. In May 2014, the Board of Directors suspended all operations, as the theater did not have resources to pay its staff, actors and vendors in a timely manner, and to make debt payments.[3] In July 2014, the Board announced that the theatre would reopen under the management of local actor-directors John Manfredi and Suzi Regan.[4][5] Under the new management team, the Network produced one and a half seasons. Despite excellent reviews for some of the productions,[6] both ticket sales and donations dropped precipitously.[7] In October 2015, the theatre announced that unless it could raise $50,000 before Thanksgiving, it would need to close its doors permanently. The funding campaign failed to reach its goal. In December, the staff and Board of Directors announced that the theatre company was no longer sustainable.[8]
Programs
Professional Season
The professional season included classic and contemporary plays under a Small Professional Theatre contract with Actors’ Equity Association. Performance Network strived to include a classic play, musical, and world premiere in each season. The season began in the fall and ran a full year.
Patrons could purchase a subscription to the professional season that gives them tickets at a discounted rate. Alternatively, patrons could purchase "Flex Tickets" or anytime tickets to use in any combination for any number of shows they pleased over the course of the season.
Apprenticeships and Internships
Performance Network's Apprenticeship program offered an intensive year-long paid position. The apprenticeship offered hands-on training in the areas of stage management, house management, development, marketing, and technical theatre. Apprentices developed a well-rounded experience in all aspects of theatre management.
Internships provided applicants a comprehensive experience in all elements of professional theatre, including box office, house management, and technical and clerical skills. Unlike the apprenticeship, which allowed apprentices to experience multiple areas of theatre, interns selected which field they would like to focus on.
Staff, Board of Directors, and Associate Artists
In the Theatre's final 18 months, its staff members included:
Ellipsis Theatre Ensemble's Ave Maria Played Softly
Spontaneous Me Productions's The Borstal Boy
MorrisCo Art Theatre's Agnes of God
Peridot Productions' No Exit
Dutchman by LeRoi Jones (Amiri Baraka)
The 12th Annual Raise The Roof
Autumn Dances Annual Choreographers Showcase
Ellipsis Theatre Ensemble's Why We Have A Body
Walk and Squawk's Inhlanzi Ishelwe Amanzi
The Shadow Theatre Company's The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)
Sensible Footwear - Comedic Feminist Terrorists
Walk and Squawk's How Could You Stoop SoLo?
Brilliant Traces by Cindy Lou Johnson
Basement Arts presents A Midsummer Night's Dream
Drop Dead by Billy Van Zandt & Jane Milmore
The 1997 Productions:
Mary Goldstein & the Author by OyamO
River Dreams by Elise Bryant
The Tiger Bounds by Malcolm Tulip
Viva, La Click-ka! by Rudolfo Valier Alvarado
Some of My Best Friends Are... by Joan Lipkin, music & lyrics by Tom Clear
The 1997 Guest Presentations:
In the Heart of the Wood by Todd Jefferson Moore
MorrisCo Art Theatre's Summer and Smoke
Come Good Rain written and performed by Toronto actor/playwright George Bwanika Seremba
Spring Dances Annual Choreographers Showcase
Sensible Footwear - Comedic Feminist Terrorists
Walk and Squawk presents Shameless Rainbow Youth Theater
MorrisCo Art Theatre presents Uncle Vanya
Dance / Partners by Terri Sarris and Patricia Plasko
The Birthday Party by Harold Pinter
Mosaic Youth theatre of Detroit presents What Fools These Mortals Be!
Ellipsis Theatre Ensemble presents A Woman's Lot and Under a Rhyming Planet
Walk & Squawk Performance Project's Who It Is
Affiliations
Performance Network Theatre was a member of the Theatre Communications Group (TCG),[39] the National New Play Network (NNPN),[40] Americans for the Arts,[41] the Cultural Alliance of Southeast Michigan (CASM),[42] the Ann Arbor Convention and Visitors Bureau (AACVB),[43] and the Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce.[44] The Theatre's activities were supported by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs,[45] and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Awards
National Awards:
2013 Edgerton Foundation New American Play Award: County Line by David Wells[46]
2011 Edgerton Foundation New American Play Award: Dead Man's Shoes by Joseph Zettelmaier[47]
2009 Edgerton Foundation New American Play Award: It Came From Mars by Joseph Zettelmaier[48]
Organizational Awards::
Voted "Best Local Theatre" by Metro Times readers, 2009
2006 Critics Choice and Angel Award for Outstanding Service to the LGBT
CommunityVoted "Best Theatre" by Current Magazine readers 1996–2008.
Best Overall Season by the Oakland Press 2005
The DeVine Award for Outstanding Contributions by the Detroit Free Press 2001 & 2005
Non-Profit Excellence Award nomination - Non-profit Enterprise at Work, 1997 & 2000
Best Comedy: The War Since Eve (director David Wolber)
New Play or Adaptation: Kim Carney, The War Since Eve
Lighting Design (Proscenium Seating): Daniel C. Walker, Marie Antoinette: The Color of Flesh
Properties Design: Charles Sutherland, The Piano Lesson
Ensemble (2–4): Marie Antoinette: The Color of Flesh
Ensemble (5 or more): The Piano Lesson
Ensemble (5 or more): Sonia Flew
Supporting Actor (Drama): John Seibert, Next Fall
Supporting Actress (Comedy): Sarah Ann Leahy, Circle Mirror Transformation
Lead Actress (Musical): Andrea Mellos, The Drowsy Chaperone
Supporting Actress (Musical): Naz Edwards, The Drowsy Chaperone
Supporting Actor (Musical): Matt Anderson, The Drowsy Chaperone
Supporting Actor (Musical): Scott Crownover, The Drowsy Chaperone
AnnArbor.com::
Best Local Play 2009: The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead, David Wolber, director
Best Acting Performances (male) 2009: John Manfredi, A Picasso, Will Myers, A Feminine Ending, James Bowen, Fences, Malcolm Tulip, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
Best Acting Performances (female) 2009: Inga Wilson, A Feminine Ending, Sheila Alyce Slaughter, Fences, Suzi Regan, The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead
Best Tech Achievements 2009: Monika Essen's set for Fences, Daniel C. Walker's lighting design for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and Christmas Carol'd
Best Locally Produced Show (2008): Doubt, John Seibert, director
Best Performance (female) 2008: Jan Radcliffe, Doubt; Sarab Kamoo, 9 Parts of Desire
Best Performance (male) 2008: Jon Bennett, Doubt, Robert Grossman, Exits and Entrances
Favorite On-Stage Moments 2008: Roxanne Wellington and Barton Bund's power lunch in The Little Dog Laughed; Tom Whalen & Jim Porterfield's reconciliation scene, Geoffrey and Jeffrey
Best Tech Achievements 2008: Daniel C. Walker's set for Doubt, Monika Essen's set for 9 Parts of Desire and Geoffrey and Jeffrey, Vincent Mountain's set for The Day Everything Went Wrong
Ann Arbor News:
Best New Play 2007: Language Lessons, Joseph Zettelmaier
Best Female Performance 2007 (tie): Carla Milarch, Dirty Blonde; Aphrodite Nikolovski, Language Lessons and The Clean House; Terry Heck, Language Lessons
Best Male Performance 2007 (tie): Malcolm Tulip, Amadeus; Phil Powers, Dirty Blonde; John Seibert, The Baker's Wife
Best Set Designer 2007: Monika Essen, designer
Best Performance by a New Face 2007: Jacob Hodgson, Candida
Best Production 2007: Amadeus, Malcolm Tulip, director
Best Lead Actress 2006: Carmen Decker, Moonglow
Best Lead Actor 2006: Malcolm Tulip, I Am My Own Wife
Best Supporting Actor 2006: Loren Bass, Moonglow
Best New Play 2006: Kim Carney's Moonglow
Best Lead Actress 2005: Mindy Woodhead, Summer and Smoke
Best Director 2005: Tony Caselli, Summer and Smoke
Best Technical Achievement 2005: Monika Essen's set for Summer and Smoke
Best Production 2005: Summer and Smoke
Detroit Free Press Awards:
Best Play 2006: Take Me Out
Best Director 2006: Jim Posante & Tony Caselli, Take Me Out
Best Featured Actor 2006: Darrell Glasgow, Take Me Out
Best Featured Actress 2005: Laurel Hufano, Boston Marriage
Award for Outstanding Contribution to Theater in a season 2005: Gillian Eaton, Humble Boy, Boston Marriage
Best Director 2003: Malcolm Tulip, Man of La Mancha
Best Featured Actress 2003: Terry Heck, Necessary Targets
Best Actress 2002: Gillian Eaton, Elizabeth Rex
Award for Outstanding Contributions to Theatre 2001: Johanna Broughton and Daniel C. Walker
