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. After 34 years, Performance Network Theatre will close its doors, mlive.com, December 18, 2015
Overview Performance Network was a 501 (c)(3) 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, (and in time, Peter Knox). Eventually, the early 1990s saw departures from the artistic staff leave the artistic direction in the hands of Johanna Broughton, who (with her husband Dan Walker, along with Carla Milarch and David Wolber) 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 Increase the reputation of the Network by placing it in a higher tier of theatres nationally Gain access to plays of nationally recognized merit, unavailable to community theatres Increase artistic quality by hiring more experienced actors, directors, and designers Gain listing in respected theatrical publications and presentation by participating in the Michigan Equity Theatre Alliance, the National New Play Network, and Theatre Communication Group Expand the audience base by gaining press coverage in Southeastern Michigan publications. 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.Ann Arbor Chronicle, June 6, 2014 In July 2014, the Board announced that the theatre would reopen under the management of local actor-directors John Manfredi and Suzi Regan.Detroit Free Press, July 16, 2014 Under the new management team, the Network produced one and a half seasons. Despite excellent reviews for some of the productions,Theater review: Performance Network's 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf' is a must-see, mLive, October 10, 2015 ; Stage vets soar in Performance Network's 'Virginia Woolf', Detroit Free Press, October 14, 2015 both ticket sales and donations dropped precipitously.Crains Detroit, December 21, 2015 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.Detroit Free Press December 18, 2015
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 a year-long paid position. It offered hands-on training in the areas of stage management, house management, development, marketing, and technical theatre. Apprentices developed experience in every aspect 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: John Manfredi, Executive Director Suzi Regan, Artistic Director
Past staff members include: Erin Sabo, Managing Director David Wolber, Artistic Director
Production history The 1997 Productions: Mary Goldstein & the Author by OyamO River Dreams by Elise Bryant Some of My Best Friends Are... by Joan Lipkin, music & lyrics by Tom Clear The Tiger Bounds by Malcolm Tulip Viva, La Click-ka! by Rudolfo Valier Alvarado
The 1997 Guest Presentations: The Birthday Party by Harold Pinter Come Good Rain written and performed by Toronto actor/playwright George Bwanika Seremba Dance / Partners by Terri Sarris and Patricia Plasko Ellipsis Theatre Ensemble presents A Woman's Lot and Under a Rhyming Planet In the Heart of the Wood by Todd Jefferson Moore MorrisCo Art Theatre's Summer and Smoke MorrisCo Art Theatre presents Uncle Vanya Mosaic Youth theatre of Detroit presents What Fools These Mortals Be! Sensible Footwear - Comedic Feminist Terrorists Spring Dances Annual Choreographers Showcase Walk and Squawk presents Shameless Rainbow Youth Theater Walk and Squawk Performance Project's Who It Is
The 1997–98 Season (PNT's first Equity season): (Johanna Broughton, executive director) Inverted Pyramid by Larry Dean Harris (world premiere) Life In Refusal by Ari Roth (Michigan premiere) Molly Sweeney by Brian Friel (Michigan premiere) Psychopathia Sexualis (play) by John Patrick Shanley (Michigan premiere) The Waiting Room by Lisa Loomer (Michigan premiere) White Picket Fence by Michael Grady (Michigan premiere)
The 1997-98 Guest Presentations: The 12th Annual Raise The Roof Autumn Dances Annual Choreographers Showcase Basement Arts presents A Midsummer Night's Dream Brilliant Traces by Cindy Lou Johnson Drop Dead by Billy Van Zandt & Jane Milmore Dutchman by LeRoi Jones (Amiri Baraka) Ellipsis Theatre Ensemble's Ave Maria Played Softly Ellipsis Theatre Ensemble's Why We Have A Body MorrisCo Art Theatre's Agnes of God Peridot Productions' No Exit Sensible Footwear - Comedic Feminist Terrorists The Shadow Theatre Company's The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) Spontaneous Me Productions's The Borstal Boy Walk and Squawk's How Could You Stoop SoLo? Walk and Squawk's Inhlanzi Ishelwe Amanzi
The 1998–99 Season: (Johanna Broughton, executive director) Avenue X: An A Cappella Musical book & lyrics by John Jiler, music by Ray Leslee How I Learned To Drive by Paula Vogel (Michigan premiere) Innocent Thoughts by William Missouri Downs (Michigan premiere) Private Eyes by Steven Dietz (Michigan premiere) The Talking Cure by Rachel Urist (world premiere)
The 1998 Guest presentations: Autumn Dances Annual Choreographers Showcase Drake Enterprises' Moby Dick Rehearsed Ellipsis Theatre Ensemble's The Moon Wolf Jesse Richards & Hundredth Monkey's Animal Lovers Project MorrisCo Art Theatre's The Importance Of Being Earnest MOSAIC Youth Theatre's heartBEAT Open Theatre's Quartet Shadow Theatre Company's Closet Land Shivaree by William Mastrosimone
1999 TreeTown Performance Festival Guest presentations June - August 1999: Brass Tacks Ensemble's King Lear Heartlande Theatre Company's Mainstream Mercury Theatre Company's Office Hours Mosaic Youth Theatre's Everybody's TalkinRAH Productions Strange Love & Unusual Sex Shadow Theatre Company's Echoes Terpsicore's Kitchen's Summer DancesThe 1999–2000 Season:(Daniel C. Walker, artistic director) ...and Associates by Jerry Lax and Ed Stein (world premiere) As Bees in Honey Drown (Michigan premiere) Not Waving by Gen LeRoy (Michigan premiere) Picasso at the Lapin Agile by Steve Martin (Michigan premiere) The Ride Down Mt. Morgan by Arthur Miller (Michigan premiere) Three Days of Rain by Richard Greenberg (Michigan premiere)The 2000–2001 Season:(Daniel C. Walker, artistic director) Art by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton (Michigan premiere) Fuddy Meers by David Lindsay-Abaire (Michigan premiere) Maggie Rose by Kim Carney (world premiere) The Maiden's Prayer by Nicky Silver (Michigan premiere) Struggling Truths by Peter Mellencamp (world premiere) Wit by Margaret Edson (Michigan premiere)The 2001–2002 Season:(Daniel C. Walker, artistic director) Elizabeth Rex by Timothy Findley (American premiere) It's All True by Jason Sherman (Michigan premiere) Special Relativity by Richard Strand (world premiere) Stop Kiss by Diana Son (Michigan premiere) Taking Leave by Nagle Jackson (Michigan premiere) The White Rose by Lillian Garrett-Groag (Michigan premiere)2002 TreeTown Performance Festival (June-Aug 2002): Anton in Show Business Chimera Theatre's A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams Collection Dada Boy Paints on Canvas Ground Zen and Skinny Arms James McNeill Whistler Mosaic Youth Theatre - Heartbeat Peter Sparling Dance Company Terpsichore's Kitchen - Dancing in SummerThe 2002–2003 Season:(Daniel C. Walker, artistic director) Copenhagen by Michael Frayn Defying Gravity by Jane Anderson (Michigan premiere) Man of La Mancha Necessary Targets by Eve Ensler (Michigan premiere) Sin by Wendy MacLeod (Michigan premiere) The Spirit House by Adam Kraar (world premiere)2003 TreeTown Performance Festival (June-Aug 2003)Brass Tacks - A Work in Progress Brilliant traces LIMF Nodes - The Blue Hour by David Mamet Mosaic Youth Theatre - Reality Pangea - The Search for Intelligent Improv in the Universe Peter Sparling Dance Company Rowen Education Network - Candy Corn, Christ, and the Convoluted Creation of Golf Terpsichore's Kitchen - Dancing in SummerThe 2003–2004 Season:(Carla Milarch, artistic director) The Home Team by Kim Carney (November–December 2003) (world premiere) Kimberly Akimbo by David Lindsay-Abaire (March–April 2004) (Michigan premiere) The Sins of Sor Juana by Karen Zacarias (September–October 2003) (Michigan premiere) Spike Heels by Theresa Rebeck (January–February 2004) (Michigan premiere) The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht, music by Kurt Weill, translated by Robert David MacDonald (April–May 2004) Tongue of a Bird by Ellen McLaughlin (October–November 2003) (Michigan premiere)