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FOOTLIGHTS
Amy Brown is new Playhouse chief
Sunday, October 14, 2007
DAYTON — Amy Brown is 35, but people often tell her she still looks quite a bit like Amy Schmidt, Alter High School student and youngest cast member of the first Muse Machine musical, "West Side Story," in 1982.
A lot of theater people have begun telling her she's going to age rapidly.
Extras
Last week, she was named the new executive and artistic director of the Dayton Playhouse.
Where they see a tough job following in the footsteps of dynamo Adam Leigh, who stepped down more than a month ago, she sees "a fabulous personal opportunity. I'm lucky to have the board's support."
Brown spent last week acclimating herself to "a part-time position that requires full-time attention." It's been pared to a part-time post as the theater pares expenses.
"Adam left us in great shape artistically, with a solid season. My immediate focus is going to be the business side," said Brown, a former board president of Playhouse South who has acted or directed at several area theaters.
Her husband, Jim Brown, who recently starred in the musical "The Full Monty" at BCT, is the current board president of Playhouse South. They live in West Carrollton with their daughter, Allena, 3.
After majoring in early childhood education at the University of Toledo, Brown worked as scheduling coordinator for the Muse Machine, as a paralegal for eight years and as a bank teller.
"We're very happy to have Amy and are expecting big things from her," Playhouse board officer John Beck said.
She made her public debut as director Friday and Saturday before performances of the Playhouse Flip Side production of "Sherlock Holmes and the West End Horror."
She listed several goals for the Playhouse, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2009:
Boost fundraising, which is falling short of current expenses.
Increase the theater's visibility and recognition in the community.
Revive the Playhouse's YouTheatre, starting as a summer program.
Name directors for upcoming productions of "Noises Off" and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"
Fill three vacancies on the board of trustees.
She said Futurefest, the annual new-play festival, will move back to the Playhouse next summer due to construction at Sinclair Community College. "But I see that as a good thing. I think it belongs here."
Brown said the downside of her new job is not having as much time with her daughter and husband. "There are only two days between now and Christmas when nothing is going on at the Playhouse. I feel I should be there when anyone is using it. It truly is the community's theater," she said.
Bit parts
News broke Wednesday that Beau Willimon's Broadway-bound "Farragut North" is also going to be made into a major motion picture starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The play had its debut in 2005 at the Dayton Playhouse's Future-fest.
The Castle Players of Alter High School, 940 E. David Road, Kettering, will present the comedy "Inspecting Carol" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2:30 p.m. next Sunday. General admission is $9 at the door. Call (937) 434-4434 for more information.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2377 or tmorris@DaytonDaily
News.com.
