B AC K S TAG E
SOCIETY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS Five decades of bringing the best international shows to the most diverse city in the country
June Christensen was barely 10 years old when she first walked into the lobby of Jones Hall. The swirling staircase, red carpet, expansive foyer and the promise of an artful adventure forged a palatial ambiance that any child would find beautifully overwhelming and thrilling. June was visiting the theater to support her sister, an accordion student with impressive skills who was a member of a larger melodeon band. While almost all of her immediate family had innate artistic abilities, June saw herself as more of a facilitator, having the kind of aptitude that, over time, would lead to a successful career in arts administration. She thought her fluency in Italian would come in handy when she applied for a permanent position with Texas Opera
“ I enjoy the challenge of working with a company that presents a broad spectrum of performing arts genres for a diverse and dynamic Houston audience.”
Theater, Houston Grand Opera’s then traveling educational troupe, and accepting the post offered her the opportunity to learn everything that happens backstage—operational logistics, costs and feasibility. Since 1989, June has been dedicated to the Society for the Performing Arts, today serving as the CEO and president. “I enjoy the challenge of working with a company that presents a broad spectrum of performing arts genres,” June explains. “With my team, we’re able to examine a show, identify the complexity of its components and discern whether the concept is suitable for a diverse and dynamic Houston audience.” For research, June travels frequently to balance SPA’s offerings with exciting, groundbreaking shows that reflect the complexity of a rapidly changing and growing urban center.
WINTER 2016–17
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