Mindock

ALPENA — Thunder Bay Theatre and its producing artistic director, Jeffrey Mindock, have decided to part ways, the theater said on Monday in a news release.

Mindock served five years and left “under mutually agreed upon terms” with the theater board, the release said.

“Paige and I are disappointed to be leaving Thunder Bay Theatre, but very excited for the time we now have to focus on each other and our futures,” Mindock said Monday about he and his wife, who also worked at TBT as associate artistic director and graphic designer. “We hope to be remembered for the impact we’ve made in making the performing arts more accessible to all ages and for encouraging thoughtful discourse through our medium. Our deepest hope is that Thunder Bay Theatre’s next leader will be able to continue to build on our successes in new and familiar ways, however they see fit. Our deepest thanks go to the patrons and community partners who followed us fiercely in every new direction.”

“We’ve come to an amicable separation” with Mindock, TBT board President Lisa Larkin said, noting “he was actually there longer than the past four or five” artistic directors who came before him.

“Being a small theater and where we are, it’s the perfect place for people to start their careers, and we would like to offer somebody else that opportunity,” Larkin added.

Molly Stricker, a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and former managing director at TBT, will serve as interim artistic director, the theater’s news release said.

Mindock took a six-week leave of absence — at his request — which ended on Sunday, Larkin said. Stricker has been in charge during Mindock’s absence, and all shows have run as usual.

“A change in Artistic Directors could mean a change in the 2020 season, but that decision will come from the board, together with the current administrative staff and the new artistic director,” Larkin said in a statement.

The board consists of seven members, and an eighth may be added in December, Larkin said over the phone on Monday.

TBT is not able to offer high-paying positions at this time, so that may have played a role in the turnover.

“Because of the size of the town and the size of our budget, we’re limited in our funds,” Larkin said.

Although it may have a limited budget, the theater has blossomed under Mindock’s leadership.

“Our fundraising has been more successful this year than it has been in past years,” Larkin said.

With a successful capital campaign, the theater procured the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan’s Golden Goose for raising the most funds of all participating nonprofits on Giving Tuesday in 2018, and was able to transform and reopen a new lobby in June.

It raised another nearly $10,000 at its “Cue, Color!” fundraiser in late September.

In addition, Larkin was impressed with Mindock’s work in the schools.

“He expanded our programming immensely. The educational tour has been very popular,” she said of TBT2 (TBT Squared), in which TBT staff presented live plays and educational programs to schools in 14 northern Michigan counties, reaching more than 12,000 students in its first three years.

“We’re working on ways to try to continue (TBT2) at least in Alpena County,” Larkin added.

“He brought some shows and perspectives that are not often seen around here, and that’s a good thing,” Larkin said. “It was a good run.”

Mindock was responsible for planning, casting, directing, and producing professional shows at the year-round theater, the news release stated. He led a team of administrative staff and was responsible for seeking and writing grants to help underwrite the theater.

“There will be a search for a permanent successor, which we will be posting soon,” Larkin explained in the news release.

“Godspell,” a collaboration with Thunder Bay Theatre and Alpena High School Masquers Club, is slated to run Nov. 29 through Dec. 15. “A Christmas Carol,” which will feature many area students and community members, will run Dec. 20 to 22. Tickets for both may be purchased at thunderbaytheatre.com.

Darby Hinkley is Lifestyles editor. She can be reached at 989-358-5691 or dhinkley@thealpenanews.com.