We Survived, Now It’s Time to Thrive!

Last June, The Hanover Theatre’s chairman of the board, Steve Joseph, talked about his vision for the organization’s future during our weekly Behind the Scenes radio program. His term began just a few months before the pandemic hit. At that time, his vision was to continue expanding our offerings and to increase the diversity of our staff, our shows and our audience. He maintained that the more people we involved from the community, the better our organization would be able to fulfill its mission and vision. He also wanted to make sure that we stabilized the theatre’s finances in an extraordinarily challenging situation to ensure our reopening once the pandemic passed.

Worcester, MA Main Street - Streetscape Improvements October 2019

“From my perspective, the board chairs, members of the board who have served, did a tremendous job of building the theatre to one of the premiere theatres in the country. To me, my legacy is asking how do I maintain that? How do we expand that? How do we make it stronger? And I think the other piece that’s important is to expand the support of the theatre to maintain its long-term viability,” said Steve Joseph, Board of Directors Chairman.

A year ago, we had no idea how an extended shutdown would affect Worcester’s vibrant cultural scene. Around the world, the creative sector has been devastated by the pandemic, with many organizations forced to close their doors and countless artists unable to work. We were equally mindful of the toll on our audiences at a time when, more than ever, we needed the sense of connection and community that the arts provide. But as artists always do, we found a way, with your help.

The last year provided an opportunity for our organization to take a step back and restructure so that we could position ourselves for the future. Chris Marrion joined our strategy and leadership team earlier this year as vice president of advancement. With over 20 years of experience working in the arts, Marrion has an impressive record working in development for Boston Lyric Opera and YoYo Ma’s Silk Road. Most recently, he served as assistant dean at his alma mater, Boston University’s College of Fine Arts. In a recent interview, he shared some of the things that inspire him in his new role including, “Sometimes extraordinary opportunities come along, totally unexpected, and that was the opportunity to come and join the team at The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory. I am excited to be able to work in a place where I can help dig into those bigger questions as well as contribute to the success of the organization.”

Theatre Creates Community

The questions that Marrion especially enjoys discussing include how the arts transform a community and change the way we can envision our future. It was exciting for him to see how The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory transformed the landscape in Worcester while connecting people who otherwise might not seem to have anything in common.

Thanks to the hundreds of generous individuals and institutions who supported our Resiliency Fund, we were able to offer virtual and hybrid conservatory classes so that our students could continue to experience the transformative power of the arts. We redesigned our partnerships with Worcester Public Schools so that students could attend performances and conservatory classes remotely. We also created some of our most imaginative and exciting theatre productions, from our filmed version of A Christmas Carol Reimagined (with screenings in the BrickBox Theater) and a socially distant Edgar Allan Poe Double Header, to THT Reps’ upcoming production of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar on Worcester Common this August.

Thank you!

Thanks to the generosity of Veronica and Howard Wiseman, we had the opportunity to do the Ides of March Match to support free public performances of Julius Caesar this summer.

We are so grateful for the extraordinary outpouring of support that we received over the past year. We are eagerly looking forward to thanking you in the best way we know how: by providing an unforgettable experience from the moment you walk through our doors. Your support continues to be critically important in maintaining our historically and culturally significant theatre and providing education and outreach programs that benefit our community. All contributions are 100% tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Find out how you can help at TheHanoverTheatre.org/support. thehanovertheatreblog.org/ behind-the-scenes-with-stevejoseph-board-chair thehanovertheatreblog.org/ behind-the-scenes-with-chrismarrion-and-looking-ahead-tothe-future

Listen to the full interviews or read highlights about how Steve and Chris became involved and their personal connections to the performing arts on our blog.