BOARD eNEWS

AUGUST 2015

KIM’S CORNER

At the July meetings, board members participated in very interactive conversations about The Kentucky Center and the next steps we need to take to ensure a vibrant future.

I left both the Foundation and The Center Board meetings feeling extremely positive and that all were in agreement on the process to seek out a master planner and engage a broader community in preparing for our institution’s future. My next step is to work with the Governance Committee to establish a task force made up of joint board members and outside stakeholders to help begin this process.

I will continue to keep you in the loop on what others in the industry are doing and on that note, here is an article from The New York Times on the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) and the last piece of its evolution (at least for now). The academy announced on Friday a $25 million building project to link three of its spaces, create permanent visual art galleries and provide new patron amenities.

I would be remiss if I did not say one last time how much The Center is going to miss David Roth, the late General Manager of the Kentucky Opera, who passed away several weeks ago. The Opera has established a fund in his honor and the Center is collecting gifts and I invite you to join us and give a contribution. You may give it to Ryan Gittings or go to the Kentucky Opera website and click on the link to the memorial fund. Also on their website you can learn more about David and his extraordinary life. I have no doubt he has already organized Heaven’s Opera Company so we can all hear and enjoy when the angels sing!

Thank you all for your continued advocacy, support, vision and leadership. I look forward to seeing you all at the annual meeting and board social on September 16.

WHO

’S WHOQ: In two words: How would you describe yourself?

A: Compassionate and driven.

Q: As a community leader, why do you want to volunteer at The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts?

A: One of the high points of moving to Louisville was the quality, diversity and accessibility of arts programming. Accordingly, my wife (Shelley) and I thought it was important to give something back for the benefit of others.

Q: What have you learned from or about board service?

A: Having served on numerous Boards and National organizations, the difference is the quality of the people and we have that in spades.

Q: What other community causes and organizations do you support?A: The Temple, Blue Apple Players, VIPS and the Louisville Ballet.

Q: Best performance you have seen at the Kentucky Center? A: Best concert was Earth Wind and Fire last year. Even though it was a bit more like Earth & Wind without

Maurice White, it was still a great show. Best musical was War Horse, the puppetry was mesmerizing – like nothing I have ever seen.

Q: What is your life motto? A: Aggressively pursue goals but be kind to others along the way.

PROFILEBOARD MEMBER

WHO

’S WHO

CRPC®, Barry is a Partner at Advantage Investment Management. He currently serves on The Kentucky Center Foundation Board.

KENTUCKY CENTER BOARD MEMBER

Barry Meyers

WHO

’S WHO

Cecilia has played in integral role in many of The Kentucky Center’s community outreach and support programs such as ArtsReach, School Programs and other educational initiatives (Kentucky Center Internship Program and special events, such as Curtains Up and Thunder over Louisville).

EMPLOYEEPROFILE

Q: What do you like best about working at The Kentucky Center?A: Being a part of all the quality arts programming and community outreach that we do.

Q: What did you want to be when you grew up?A: Fashion Designer or an Egyptologist.

Q: When did you discover your love for the arts?A: Growing up, English was not my first language and I found that there was a communication

barrier with others. At around 4 or 5 years old, I discovered that drama and drawing didn’t need a translator. The arts were my medium for communication and since then have become a passion and big part of my life.

Q: When someone is asked, “What’s Cecilia like?” you hope they answer…A: Positive! I’m the “glass is half full” person. I always try to look on the bright side of everything.

Q: Best performance you have seen at the Kentucky Center? A: Hughes and Blues, a three person play about the poetry of Langston Hughes set to blues. The

performance was in alignment with ArtsReach’s continued goal to bring young people into the building that might not otherwise be at the Center, to educate, and to produce art experiences which resonate with the community.

EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ARTS PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Cecilia Reyna

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Italy’s Campagnia T.P.O., BLEU! and the Center’s Darren Taylor

5K Urban Obstacle Night race

In late May, One of Italy’s most innovative theater companies, Compagnia TPO, performed their work Bleu! in the MeX Theater. Over the several days the performers were in Louisville they were under the excellent care of The Kentucky Center’s MeX Theater Manager Darren Taylor. Darren took them to their first baseball game (Louisville BATS) and later they all went bowling. They saw Costco for their first time and then wandered around the Paddock Shops. They even got to go see Wendy Whelan’s incredible performance of Restless Creature. Darren went above and beyond to create a wonderful visit for these performers, and by doing so, he had a wonderful experience himself.

Kim received a most touching note from an attendee to the performance of Bleu!.

The Kentucky Center participated in The Waterfront Challenge 5K Urban Obstacle Night race on June 6th. Our team, “The Kentucky Center Stage Drivers” represented The Center well.

KENTUCKY CENTER STAGE DIVERS TIMES

1 22 Robert Schmidlapp 32:41 2 23 Richard Goff 32:43 3 53 Emily Nash 38:58 4 72 Lauren Metts 43:53 5 75 Christy Grimaud 44:08 6 78 Amber Halloran 44:44 7 81 Morgan Eklund 45:12

Hello Ms. Baker. I’m writing to share a wonderful experience my family had at the Kentucky Center last weekend. In browsing the online calendar, we came upon Compagnia TPO: Bleu and thought it might be a good fit for our family. My son is six years old, uses a wheelchair, and has multiple disabilities, so the sensory-friendly show on May 23rd was an exciting possibility for us.Our experience far surpassed our expectations, and not only because the show itself was amazing. The Kentucky Center staff were professional, kind, and accommodating from the very beginning of our visit. We arrived early because we have encountered difficulties with other venues in the past, but everyone from the ushers to the managers treated our son with friendliness and respect and went out of their way to ensure we had everything we needed. We were invited to go up to the theater before the show in order to pick out which seats we preferred to have reserved. This gesture was particularly meaning ful to me because it acknowledged that there is more to handicap accessible seating than simply a spot on the aisle. Darren Taylor rearranged seats to find the optimal arrangement and then spoke with us about whether and how we preferred our son to participate in the show. I had assumed that, even though the show is advertised as interactive, my son’s wheelchair would prevent him from joining in, so this conversation was a thrilling surprise. And it was handled beautifully. I wish I could adequately describe to you the feeling of seeing your child - usually wholly dependent on you - soaring around a stage with dancers and other children.After the show, we had a delightful visit with the cast and with Darren Taylor and his lovely family. It was the perfect ending to a perfect experience, made even more special to our family because of its rarity. So thank you, so very much, for a fun and meaning ful Saturday morning. I hope that you will consider bringing Compagnia TPO back to the Kentucky Center during their regular tour of the US. I can assure you we will be there if you do, and I have many friends in the special needs community I know would love the chance to enjoy an experience similar to ours.Many thanks.

Arts-Magnet Elementary School

In Memoriam: David Roth, 1959-2015

Annual Habitat for Humanity

The Courier-Journal recently published an article about the successful turnaround of Lincoln Elementary from a school that was slated to close to an arts-magnet elementary school that is now in high demand. The Kentucky Center was mentioned in the article for the role that we played in partnering with JCPS.

Mr. Roth had been the General Director of Kentucky Opera since 2006. He moved to Louisville from Texas where he was the Finance Director of Fort Worth Opera. Mr. Roth held a double major from University of Wisconsin in Business Administration and Vocal Performance. Mr. Roth was a Director’s Assistant for Colin Graham, Francesca Zambello and John Copley, as well as a freelance stage director for numerous opera companies including Minnesota Opera, Baltimore Opera, and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. Mr. Roth held the essential balance of artistic sophistication and financial acumen required to lead Kentucky Opera.We will miss our dear friend and send condolences to his family in this time of grief.

On July 31, The Kentucky Center once again participated in Brown-Forman’s annual Habitat for Humanity building project.

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NEWWHAT’S NEW

NEW ARTWORKS

2015 FORTY UNDER 40 HALL OF FAME!

INNOVATION SUMMIT

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

FINANCE NEWS

CONGRATULATIONS ROB!

WONDERFUL SURPRISE

His work now adorns the walls in the Administration Office reception room. Learn more about local painter Frank W. Weisberg and his latest exhibit “Desserts Series”.

Kentucky Center Board Member Dave Calzi is one of the latest local business leaders to be recognized in Louisville Business First’s 40 Under 40 Hall of Fame. He and fellow inductees Patti Swope and Steve Trager will participate in a panel discussion at Audubon Country Club (3265 Robin Road, Louisville KY 40213) Thursday, September 10th. Click here for tickets. Congratulations Dave!

The Louisville Innovation Summit, which brings healthcare leaders and innovators together to provide insight, share expertise and explore new avenues of creativity in aging care, will be held at The Kentucky Center October 14-15.

The Center received a $75,000 grant from The Gheens Foundation to fund expanded concert programming and a continued partnership with America’s largest national youth classical music showcase, From the Top. A concert featuring a side-by-side performance by the Louisville Orchestra and Louisville Youth Orchestra, and a special performance of From the Top will be performed in February 2016.

The 2015 audit is through the second week and is going very well. Dawn Driskell is in charge for the Center and Foundation and was well prepared when MCM arrived. The field work is complete and the final results will be

The Kentucky Center congratulates Rob Thomas, selected for participation in the 2015 Leadership Louisville class. To see the recently named class, click here.

The Louisville Ballet received a generous gift of $1,000,000 from an anonymous donor. Click here for the story.

The Center received a $25,000 grant from The Norton Foundation for ArtsReach programming in over 40 community centers throughout Metro Louisville, impacting over 3,000 youth.

ArtsReach has received a new $15,000 grant from UPS to support the program’s monthly Open Mic, Annual Performance Showcase, and Keepers of the Dream. This support will also provide an additional 100 KCard tickets for the 2015-2016 season. The KCard allows ArtsReach sites and students to purchase subsidized tickets for only $3 each to select performances by the Louisville Ballet, Kentucky Opera, Louisville Orchestra, StageOne Family Theatre, PNC Broadway in Louisville, and Kentucky Center Presents.

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NEW WEBSITE!After many months of research and development, The Kentucky Center has launched its new website! As you know, this is the final piece of our brand puzzle to fall into place and in many respects, we saved the best for last. This new website carries our current and more vibrant graphic standards, streamlined ticket purchase functionality and more intuitive navigation. The site is also responsive, meaning it recognizes which devices access the site and scales to fit content onto those screens accordingly. If you have not already perused the site, please take a few moments to visit kentuckycenter.org.

The Center received a $35,000 grant from The Humana Foundation to support the Arts in Healing program to provide creative arts experiences for over 17,000 patients, 8,400 staff, and 7,200 caregivers at 16 healthcare facilities.

The Center received a $35,000 grant from the WHAS Crusade for Children to support three outreach programs for special needs children (ArtsReach, Arts in Healing, and Access) and the construction of a ramp for easier access to the Quiet Room in the Bomhard Theater.

presented at the September 8 Finance/Audit Committee meeting.

Finance, Security, Human Resources and Diane Tobin participated in a full review of our insurance coverage and review for our liability insurance with Travelers. They were very complimentary of our facility and our processes. Travelers will follow-up with any recommendations and Amber and Diane will share the information with the newly formed board insurance task force.

CONGRATULATIONS ROB!

WONDERFUL SURPRISE

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WELCOME TO THE TEAM!

Vicky Stevens joined the Kentucky Center on July 6th as the Director of Talent & Organizational Development. Vicky has nearly 25 years of experience in human resources and professional development. She is an expert in assisting employees discover avenues and resources to help them reach their personal and professional goals. She is a MBTI Certified Facilitator and a Predictive Index (PI) Analyst. For her former employer, the Oliver Group, Vicky crafted and implemented numerous strategic plans for organizations and designed and delivered leadership programs for numerous businesses including Fortune 500 companies. The new Vice President of Facilities is Charles (Chuck)

Schmidt and he also started at the Kentucky Center on August 10. Chuck brings over 25 years of experience to The Kentucky Center that includes production responsibility for multi-theatre performances, regional and national touring, national corporate events and leadership skills in strategic planning, staff development, budget forecasting, season planning, design evaluation & implementation and contract negotiations. A tremendous thanks to the Kentucky Center’s internal search committee made up of employees representing production, custodial, security and IT in reviewing the finalists.

NEW WEBSITE!

Larrissa Reece has been hired as the new Sr. Vice President of Development and started work on August 10. Larissa comes to us with a full tool box of fund-raising, marketing, and government affairs experience. Most recently she was the Vice-President for Development and Alumni Affairs at

New York Medical College and before that held positions at U of L, The Family Place, and worked for Louisville’s Mayor Armstrong as his Deputy Press Secretary. She has advanced training in development from John Hopkins Philanthropy Institute as well as the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. Larissa loves the arts and is happy to be back in Kentucky. Many thanks to Don Parkinson, Madeline Abramson, and Bob Rounsavall for sharing their time and insights during the interviewing process.

FUNFACT

LYLE LOVETT

Singer-Songwriter Lyle Lovett is a longtime friend of The Kentucky Center. His first appearance in our halls was in 1988 performing at the Lonesome Pine Specials. When he performed in Whitney Hall earlier this month, some of his biggest fans had the opportunity to meet him.

UPCOMING EVENTSLincoln Foundation presents20th Annual Evening of JazzFriday, August 21, 2015The Kentucky Center-Bomhard Theater

89.3 WFPL presentsWait Wait... Don’t Tell Me!Thursday, September 3, 2015The Kentucky Center-Whitney Hall

91.9 WFPK presentsThe Paul Thorn BandFriday, September 11, 2015The Kentucky Center-Bomhard Theater

107.7 The Eagle presentsThe Dark Side of the WallSaturday, September 12, 2015Iroquois Amphitheatre

River City Drum Corp & ArtsReach Open MicSunday, August 13, 2015, 4:00pmThe Kentucky Center-North LobbyFree and open to the public! No ticket required.

PNC Broadway in Louisville Rodgers + Hammerstein’s CinderellaTuesday, September 15, 2015 - Sunday, September 20, 2015The Kentucky Center-Whitney Hall

The Kentucky Center & NS2 presentThe Milk Carton Kids with special guest The ContendersThursday, September 17, 2015The Kentucky Center- Bomhard Theater

LEO A Little Off CenterOne Breaking Bad: The Unauthorized ParodySaturday, September 26, 8:00pmThe Kentucky Center- Bomhard Theater

IdeaFestival 2015Festival Pass Wednesday, September 30th - Friday, October 2nd, 2015The Kentucky Center

FUNFACT