 The
public dustup over who will be in control at the Skylight Opera
Theatre is long past. Tempers have cooled after a turbulent summer
that included hirings, firings, rallies and rebellion. A new
management staff has taken the helm, including the return of longtime
artistic director Bill Theisen. So what’s next for this venerable,
ever-exciting 50-year-old company?
We checked in with veteran
arts/nonprofit executive Amy Jensen, who took up her duties as
managing director in November. Jensen, formerly vice president and
chief financial officer for the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, also
held posts at the United Performing Arts Fund and the Milwaukee Art
Museum, and was finance director for the Skylight from 1995 to 2001.
What possessed you to take this job?
I love the Skylight, and it has been
such an important part of my world. I earned my MBA in 2006 with the
ultimate goal of stepping up to an executive director role. Now is the
time and the Skylight is the place. While there are definitely many
challenges, I don’t believe any stand in the way of a successful
future.
What are you looking forward to
accomplishing?
Getting the organization back on more
solid footing financially is the No. 1 priority. But, finding ways of
accomplishing that while still maintaining the things that make the
Skylight special will be critical to its success. That means
supporting an already terrific staff and enabling them to continue
producing such fine work both on and off the stage; ensuring the
collaborative and nurturing atmosphere that makes artists want to work
at the Skylight; and providing intimate, engaging and innovative
productions for our audience each season.
What skills do you bring to the
Skylight?
I have spent the past 15 years in the
arts focused primarily on financial management. Right now, the
Skylight is in particular need of that financial expertise. In many of
my positions in the arts, I’ve had responsibility for financial
planning, human resource management, information technology, strategic
planning, facilities management and have worked closely with board
members and other volunteers on a variety of committees. In addition,
I have a deep knowledge of UPAF and a good working relationship with
its leadership.
How will you put the company’s
past turmoil behind you and move ahead?
I fully believe that a great deal of
good has come out of the recent challenges. It was, in many ways, a
reminder of how deeply so many people feel about the Skylight and how
committed they are to supporting the organization. I plan to invest
more time focusing everyone on where the Skylight is now and where it
is going than what we’ve just been through. But it may take some
time.
What’s the role of the Skylight in
today’s Milwaukee theater scene?
The Skylight fits a unique niche in the
Milwaukee arts scene because it strives to produce an eclectic mix of
all forms of music theater in a collaborative and innovative way in a
very intimate setting. As one of the six largest performing arts
groups in Milwaukee, the Skylight is an important part of the city’s
cultural fabric.
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