Meadville Tribune

Local News

July 11, 2007

Director hopes for historic venue to shine

07/12/07 — The luck of the Irish is sure to be with Kelly Colleen McMahon as the new managing director of the Academy Theatre works to bring the story of the historic arts venue to the public’s attention.

“They have good programming,” the Crawford County native and former resident of Ireland said of the Chestnut Street entertainment landmark. “I think they are coming back from having a lower profile and are poised to be more of a community destination. I’d like to see them be something that everyone goes to see.”

The 1994 graduate of Maplewood High School and a daughter of John and Elaine McMahon of Meadville, she has only been on the job for about a month but she’s already immersed in everything from the mundane — addressing the air conditioning and telephone system, for example — to the lofty — getting the theater’s name out there.

So what’s her job description? “To make sure everything runs smoothly,” she said with a laugh.

“I just am here basically to run the business side of things,” she added, explaining that various board members have been doing the bulk of the duties, everything from the bills to the upkeep, since the Academy last had a managing director, which has been a few years. “Now I’m going to be doing all of them.”

While Ted Watts Jr. and his Empty Jug Productions handle the stage’s season (the musical “Godspell” is currently playing and the 2007-08 schedule will start with “Jekyll & Hyde” in late October), McMahon’s emphasis is “more right now of building back the foundation.”

McMahon has the blessing of the board.

“Basically what they did tell me was they would like a list of the top 10 things I think they should do as a kind of first look, then to pick the ones that are the best and go from there. ... I have some ideas, but I’m just six weeks into it and I’m still trying to get a sense of what the theater is and what it wants to be and move it into the future. The first step is to strengthen what they have,” she said, referencing the popular theater camp for kids, “and build connections with other theater groups. I’m trying to just solidify the progress they’ve made.”

And McMahon is blessed to have the board.

“I think that it’s got a very good support network; the people on the board really care about it,” she said. In fact, when making the announcement of her hiring, Academy Theatre Foundation President Dan Crandall said, “Kelly has the right combination of theater experience, education, business acumen and enthusiasm to take the Academy to the next level.”

McMahon, who studied psychology at Westminster College, has master’s degrees in theater arts from the University of Pittsburgh and drama and theater studies from the National University of Ireland. In January of last year, she founded Ninth Wave Theatre in Galway, and also served as its producer and director. She remains the company’s artistic director and, although she moved back to Meadville around Thanksgiving, “I did want to continue to do shows in Galway but not live there full time.”

To enjoy (and appreciate) the best of both worlds, she remains connected there while living here and operates a sort of “exchange student” program to bring Irish talent to the States and vice versa. She even envisions taking some Academy talent (one performer or two at a time) to the Emerald Isle for a production or training.

After adjusting to her new position and formulating her yet-to-be-shared slate of suggestions, she plans to present her ideas to the board later this month or in August. “They would like to be a venue for more events and would like to see more community groups use the space as a performing or meeting venue,” she said.

To that end, she will reach out to various groups — the Kiwanis Club, for instance — and pursue the possibility of hooking up with them for special programs or events at the Academy.

“To bring the story of the theater to the public is what (the board) told me to do.”



Did you know?

An architectural gem in the heart of downtown Meadville, the Academy Theatre is now devoted mainly to stage productions.

First known as the Academy of Music, it was built in 1886 and operated as an opera house, hosting live shows up into the 1920s, when it began to share the stage with silent films.

In the late 1920s it was converted to a movie theater, surviving as such until the 1980s when a fire and general disrepair forced it to close.

Since the early 1990s, local nonprofit efforts have been key to its renewal as a respected stage, work that has included extensive renovations. From main floor to the top of its balcony, the theater can seat 460 patrons.



The Academy Theatre's 2007-08 season

The Academy Theatre’s 2007-08 season is scheduled to include these shows:

–– “Jekyll & Hyde,” Oct. 26 to 28, Nov. 2 to 4 and 9 to 11.

–– “Beauty and the Beast,” Dec. 13 to 16 and 20 to 23.

–– “A Streetcar Named Desire,” March 28 to 30, April 4, 5, 11 and 12.

–– “Tommy,” May 2 to 4, 9 to 11 and 16 to 18.

–– “Singin’ in the Rain,” June 13 to 15, 20 to 22 and 27 to 29.

–– “Big River,” July 18 to 20, 25 to 27, and Aug. 1 to 3.

–– More information: Call 337-8000 or visit www.meadvilleacademytheatre.com.

Text Only
Local News
  • Completion of $6.8M expansion marks C&J's 50th year

    With its 50th year in business under way — and business continuing to boom — a local high-tech tooling and plastic parts manufacturer appears at the ready for an even higher-tech future.

    February 4, 2012

  • Cochranton Carl says winter will be done soon

    So here’s the deal. Some groundhogs  — animals christened Marmota monax by the Swedish botanist Linnaeus in 1758 and also known colloquially as woodchucks, whistle-pigs and land-beavers — are remarkably high maintenance.

    February 3, 2012

  • City council hears what applicants have to offer

    Seven applicants for the vacant seat on Meadville City Council interviewed with council members during an extended public session. Council members have 30 days to select a replacement for Chandler Mason, who won a place on the November ballot in the May primary, won again in November, and then opted to not take the seat.

    February 3, 2012

  • Second interviews set for two council hopefuls

    Nine applications were received, seven applicants were interviewed and two have been asked to return for a second round of talks as the search for Meadville City Council’s tie-breaking fifth member swings into high gear.

    February 2, 2012

  • Next stop Carnegie Hall for Maplewood singer

    Michael Miller stands alone on the stage of Ford Chapel on the campus of Allegheny College. He draws in a breath, opens his mouth and, with no visible effort, fills the entire room with the sound of his voice.

    February 2, 2012

  • Scholarships helping women get back in the classroom

    “As long back as I can remember, there’s been this little voice inside me that says, ‘You can do more,’ ” Vanessa Shaffer recalled. “I’d done a brilliant job in ignoring that voice — and I was ready to give it an ear.”

    February 1, 2012

  • Plan unveiled that could save more than $20 million

    A citizens’ advisory committee recommends Crawford County split almost all of its courthouse functions among two sites — the former Talon Inc. Plant No. 5 on upper Arch Street and the present Crawford County Courthouse in downtown Meadville — and at a 40 percent lower cost than previously anticipated.

    February 1, 2012

  • Cochranton Carl now on Facebook and ready to forecast

    As the annual Groundhog Day gets near, one local weather-watching critter is starting to cause a stir on Facebook.

    January 31, 2012

  • DA: Argument shows accused killer's ill will

    A verbal argument related to a drug store robbery is what Crawford County District Attorney Francis Schultz alleges led a Linesville man to murder a Linesville-area couple almost two years ago.

    January 31, 2012

  • Accident closes Route 322 in western Crawford County

    Route 322 is closed from West State Road/Turnersville Road in West Shenango Township to Water Street in Jamestown Borough, Mercer County, due to an accident that downed utility lines at County Line Road in Jamestown. The road is expected to reopen by noon today, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

    January 30, 2012

Business Marquee
AP Video
Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East 2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3% Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths 'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy? Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot New Suits, New Starts for New York's Unemployed Hall of Famer Dorsett Speaks Out on NFL Injuries
Poll

Lunches provided in schools:

Are fine ... or at least ‘good enough’ for the low cost
Are poor. They really don’t amount to much more than “junk food”
Don’t matter to us — our kids carry their lunch
     View Results
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com
Stocks