Mark Fleischer, ATF’s departing director Mark Fleischer succeeded founders David Turner and Martha Banta as the Adirondack Theatre Festival’s Producing Artistic Director. After this, his seventh season, he departs to become the new Associate Artistic Director of the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera. Highlights he cites: PERFORMANCES • Christine Andreas as Judy Garland last summer in ATF’s Heartbreaker was a true glimpse of a star at work. • Joe Kinosian in ATF’s Murder for Two — his chameleon-like ability to transform between 13 distinct characters combined with his piano skills (and he was one fo the writers) was incredible. • Dixie in Dixie’s Tupperware Party presented by the Wood. This show wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but the brazen performance of a drag queen selling tupperware was funny and one of those moments when I asked myself, “Am I still in Glens Falls?” AUDIENCES • Sitting in the audience of Next to Normal, yes, I am biased as the director, but I distinctly remember, near the end of the show thinking, “What is that noise?” only to look around and see that people were wiping their eyes, looking for tissues as they were moved by the struggles and connections of this family being portrayed on stage. • The laughter and gasps Avenue Q elicited from the audience. • Tick, Tick...Boom!, Martha Banta and David Turner’s last show at ATF. It was my introduction to this community and the enthusiasm it has for ATF. I remember feeling exhilarated and a little bit fearful as I stepped into my new role. PRIVATE THOUGHTS • Seeing the ATF interns hard at
Mark Fleischer as a Blues Brother at an ATF benefit. Cathy DeDe photo
work alongside our staff as they learn not only their craft, but the role a theatre plays in its community. As the summer progresses, their ownership in ATF, the theater, this community and the work produced on stage grows. And they, as a handful of strangers at the beginning of the summer become a team of colleagues. • The post-show conversations with audiences. Having the chance to hear directly from the audience and listening to them interact with our actors and playwrights is at the heart of ATF’s goal: To create theatre that starts a conversation. • The end of the last ATF benefit. Everyone had gone home and a handful of us collapsed in to the front row while the cast gathered around the piano and sang songs. In those moments the theatre becomes my living room.
ATF seeks new chief
2014 will be Mark Fleischer’s seventh and final season as Producing Artistic Director of the Adirondack Theatre Festival. He’s accepted the newly created position of Associate Artistic Director of the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, responsible for new play development among other roles. ATF founding board member Kate Broderick is heading the search committee for Mr. Fleischer’s successor, as Please turn to next page
Congratulations to Adirondack Theatre Festival and Wood Theater
We’re not Expensive,We’re Priceless
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8 • The Chronicle’s GLENS FALLS MAGAZINE: Special Edition • 2014