Oregon shakespeer5/15/2023 These decisions came after OSF took several actions throughout the 2022 season and in advance of 2023 to offset inherited structural deficits and the pandemic’s impact on operational costs, ticket sales and donations. The recently announced changes to OSF also include 12 staff separations, seven employee furloughs, as well as putting a stop or delay on filling 18 open positions. That was actually a gradual shift that Garrett says predates her tenure by decades. In addition to that, Garrett has endured death threats and received letters from patrons identifying themselves as the “Old White Guard,” who accused the artistic director of not understanding Shakespeare and staging too much modern and diverse work. While the company started hosting some of those plays at Ashland High School, only a fraction of the ticket holders can fit in the smaller space. Not only did COVID lockdowns scrap hundreds of performances (the company left its stages dark for all of 2020), hazardous smoke from Southern Oregon wildfires have forced multiple cancellations of plays on its highly popular and largest venue: the Elizabethan Theatre, which is a three-story re-creation of the famed Globe. The past several years have been perhaps the most challenging time OSF has experienced. I have no doubt that she, along with other members of the leadership team, will lead this organization through this transition period and into a place of stability and success.” “We have experienced Nataki’s leadership through crisis many times before, but most notably during the pandemic when she took on the responsibilities across the organization to help OSF survive. “We are grateful for David’s contributions to OSF and his leadership under very challenging times at OSF,” Diane Yu, OSF board chair, stated in a press release. Nataki Garrett Nataki Garrett - artistic director OSF - 2020 (Photo: Christopher Briscoe) In addition to her current role as managing director of Inclusion Diversity, Equity and Access people, culture and operations, Anyania Muse will become interim chief operations officer, taking on finance, audience experience and education. Amanda Brandes, director of development, is also leaving her post in mid-February.ĭuring this transition, artistic director Nataki Garrett stepped in as interim executive artistic director, overseeing OSF’s artistic direction, marketing and overall development. In January, executive director David Schmitz announced he would be stepping down from his position, effective immediately, as part of OSF’s post-pandemic restructuring in order to ensure that both the artistic and business sides of the company can be brought into further alignment. Just months before the start of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s 2023 season, the organization has announced major changes to its leadership team. The Green Show_O website_WEB SEEING GREEN: Recordings of the Green Show, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s free, outdoor performances, are now streaming online.
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