Performance Network Theatre


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.

Overview

Performance Network was a 501 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,. Eventually, the early 1990s saw departures from the artistic staff leave the artistic direction in the hands of Johanna Broughton, who 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
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. In July 2014, the Board announced that the theatre would reopen under the management of local actor-directors John Manfredi and Suzi Regan. Under the new management team, the Network produced one and a half seasons. Despite excellent reviews for some of the productions, both ticket sales and donations dropped precipitously. 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.

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:
Past staff members include:
Board of Directors
Associate Artists
The 2015–2016 season

The 2014–2015 season
The 2013–2014 season:
The 2012–2013 Season:
The 2011–2012 season:
The 2010–2011 season:
The 2009–2010 season:
  • The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead by Robert Hewett
  • Christmas Carol'd by
  • K2 by Patrick Meyers
  • It Came From Mars by , a co-production with Williamston Theatre
  • Little Shop of Horrors Book/Lyrics by Howard Ashman, Music by Alan Menken
  • The Seafarer by Conor McPherson
  • Woman Before a Glass by Lanie Robertson
The 2008–2009 season:
The 2007–2008 season:
The 2006–2007 season:
The 2005–2006 season:
The 2004–2005 Season:
The 2003–2004 Season:
The 2002–2003 Season:
2003 TreeTown Performance Festival
The 2001–2002 Season:
2002 TreeTown Performance Festival :
The 2000–2001 Season:
The 1999–2000 Season:
The 1998–99 Season:
The 1998 Guest presentations:
1999 TreeTown Performance Festival Guest presentations June - August 1999:
The 1997–98 Season :
  • Molly Sweeney by Brian Friel
  • The Waiting Room by Lisa Loomer
  • Inverted Pyramid by Larry Dean Harris
  • Life In Refusal by Ari Roth
  • White Picket Fence by Michael Grady
  • Psychopathia Sexualis by John Patrick Shanley
The 1997-98 Guest Presentations:
  • Autumn Dances Annual Choreographers Showcase
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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:'
Performance Network Theatre was a member of the Theatre Communications Group, the National New Play Network, Americans for the Arts, the Cultural Alliance of Southeast Michigan, the Ann Arbor Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce. The Theatre's activities were supported by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Awards

National Awards:
Organizational Awards::
Wilde Awards:
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
Rogue's Gallery Award Winners
2013 Winners
2012 Winners
2011 WInners
Rogue's Gallery Award Nominees:
2013 Nominees
2012 Nominees
2011 Nominees
  • Best Drama: Sonia Flew
  • Best Comedy: The War Since Eve
  • New Play or Adaptation: Kim Carney, The War Since Eve
  • Lighting Design : Daniel C. Walker, Marie Antoinette: The Color of Flesh
  • Properties Design: Charles Sutherland, The Piano Lesson
  • Ensemble : Marie Antoinette: The Color of Flesh
  • Ensemble : The Piano Lesson
  • Ensemble : Sonia Flew
  • Supporting Actor : John Seibert, Next Fall
  • Supporting Actress : Sarah Ann Leahy, Circle Mirror Transformation
  • Lead Actress : Andrea Mellos, The Drowsy Chaperone
  • Supporting Actress : Naz Edwards, The Drowsy Chaperone
  • Supporting Actor : Matt Anderson, The Drowsy Chaperone
  • Supporting Actor : 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 2009: John Manfredi, A Picasso, Will Myers, A Feminine Ending, James Bowen, Fences, Malcolm Tulip, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
  • Best Acting Performances 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 : Doubt, John Seibert, director
  • Best Performance 2008: Jan Radcliffe, Doubt; Sarab Kamoo, 9 Parts of Desire
  • Best Performance 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:'
Detroit Free Press Awards: