The Barnstormers Theatre is proud to announce the employment of their new Artist Director, Robert Shea. What a fitting way to kick off their 75th Anniversary year! Not a stranger to the Barnstormers Theatre, Bob has been actively involved in production and performance there as Director, Lighting Designer, Technical Director and Actor for over 25 years now. He comes to the Artistic Director position with a long and impressive background of talents and skills, making him an extreme asset to their multi-faceted theatre venue.
Shea currently serves as director of the Dana Center, a regional performing arts center at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH, where he presents a performing arts season of national and international touring artists consisting of ballet, contemporary dance, classical theatre, classical music, jazz and opera as well as popular forms of entertainment. He looks forward to serving as director in both the Dana Center and The Barnstormers Theatre this season. Prior to Saint Anselm College he served as Vice President for Academic Affairs of the New Hampshire Institute of Art.
Here he was instrumental in implementing the Institute's four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in drawing, painting, photography, and ceramics, in addition to implementing new certificate programs in interior design, creative writing and acting. In 1997, in partnership with the New Hampshire Institute of Art, Mr. Shea founded ³New Art Theatre², a professional theatre company dedicated to the production of new plays and innovative interpretations of classical plays. From 1983-1995 he was Executive Director/Artistic Director of the New Hampshire Performing Arts Center at the historic Palace Theatre in Manchester, NH. During this 12-year period, the Palace Theatre became a model for historic theatre restoration, program development, and audience development. His list of talents and credits go on and on... Mr. Shea received a master of fine arts degree from the University of Memphis and has taught theatre history, dramatic literature, acting, directing, set design, and lighting design at several colleges and institutes. He served as tour director for undergraduate theatre students as they traveled throughout Great Britain performing American plays for British audiences.
This became a prototype for American University semester abroad programs.
Robert Shea currently serves on the Advisory Council of the Currier Museum of Art, the Board of Advisors for the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Winthrop University in South Carolina, is a member in good standing with the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, and serves on the Board of Directors of Arts Presenters of Northern New England. In past years Mr. Shea served as President of the Manchester Rotary Club, President of New Hampshire's arts advocacy organization "Arts 1000", and on the Board of Directors for the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce. He¹s an Artistic Director, manager, performer, writer, choreographer, teacher, promoter, organizer, advisor, recruiter, administrator, designer, accounting supervisor, fund-raiser and more. To say that Robert Shea comes with an impressive list of qualification would be a understatement and the Barnstormers Theatre is proud and honored to have him at the helm of the 75th season in Tamworth, NH.
The Barnstormers Theatre is the oldest professional summer theatre in the Country. It was founded in Tamworth, NH in 1931 and has made its home there ever since.The Theatre is a 282 seat building situated on .25 acres right in the center of the Tamworth Village. In 1999 the theatre was renovated and winterized through a capital campaign in order to create a venue for cultural activities sponsored by local charitable organizations, schools, and local drama groups. The revised mission statement of the Barnstormers is "to keep vital the value, spirit, and tradition of fine summer theatre in Tamworth and to provide a venue for and promote varied cultural activities within the region." The core activity at the theatre, however, is the eight week summer season which consists of eight different plays, performed by professional actors. 12 to 15 young people are employed each summer as ushers and one of the professional cast members holds summer classes for students in conjunction with the Tamworth Recreation Department.
The theatre is fully air-conditioned, handicap accessible, and there is plenty of parking in the village. Tickets will be available by calling 603-323-8500, when the Box Office opens June 1, 2005. Orchestra seats are $25; $20 in the balcony and curtain time is 8:00 PM nightly, Tuesdays through Saturdays during the months of July and August. If you would like to learn more about the theatre, find the seasons play list, or join the mailing list, log onto www.barnstormerstheatre.com. For additional information you may call Theatre Manager, Dale Bragdon, at 603-323-8661.
FMI:Donna Woodward
207 935-3959
