HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes.WHLR.20240814.Regular
Wheeler Advisory Board Minutes
August 14th, 2024 | 3:00 p.m.
In Attendance:
Wheeler Opera House Advisory Board Members: Chip Fuller*, Chair; Amy Mountjoy, Vice-
Chair; Dr. Tom Kurt, Secretary; Daniel Benavent; Ziska Childs; Nina Gabianelli; Richard
Stettner*; Kate Northfield-Lanich
Wheeler Opera House Staff: Lisa Rigsby Peterson, Executive Director; Diane Foster, Assistant
City Manager; Karen McConnell, Administrative & Artistic Specialist. Michael Baca, Production
Manager; Cody Kosinski, Assistant Production Manager; Alex Glen, Front of House Supervisor;
Risa Rushmore, Front of House Coordinator and Ginger Kennington, newly appointed Ticketing
Supervisor.
Absent: None.
*Attended via Zoom
Recorder: Karen McConnell
Chair Chip Fuller zoomed in, and Vice-Chair Amy Mountjoy called the meeting to order at 3:03
PM.
Vice Chair Amy Mountjoy asked for a motion to approve the updated May minutes. Nina
Gabianelli moved, Daniel Benavent seconded, approving the May 8th, 2024 meeting minutes.
Motion passed unanimously.
Vice Chair Amy Mountjoy asked for public comment or comment from staff in attendance. There
was none.
Vice Chair Mountjoy introduced Diane Foster, Assistant City Manager who announced that Mike
Harrington will be the new director of the Wheeler Opera House and provided background on
Mr. Harrington. His first day will be September 23rd, 2024. He has asked for a number of
documents which Lisa Rigsby Peterson and staff are providing. Ms. Rigsby Peterson will be
physically in Aspen until end of August, 2024 and has agreed to stay on full-time remote after
end of August as Executive Director until September 22nd, 2024. When Mike arrives on
September 23rd, 2024, she will stay on part-time for a transition period. Ms. Foster expressed
her appreciation to Ms. Rigsby Peterson for her flexibility. During the first few weeks of Ms.
Rigsby Peterson’s part-time remote work, Ms. Foster will be physically present at the Wheeler
for staff needs. Ms. Foster shared that the press release furnished to Board members would go
out soon. Artistic Programmer budget has been established; however, Mr. Harrington has a
passion for programming (as does Ms. Rigsby Peterson) and would like to evaluate
organizational needs when he arrives. Mr. Harrington is detail-oriented and Ms. Rigsby
Peterson is pulling together the long list of items he’d like to do his homework on ranging from
budget, marketing plans, systems, etc. and also, as recently as this morning, as the press
release was finalized, Mr. Harrington suggested the press release include a call to action
directing readers to the Wheeler website.
Ms. Rigsby Peterson will be present via zoom for the September 11th Wheeler Advisory Board
meeting and thanked each of the board members for their dedication, care and passion to the
Wheeler organization and expressed that even during difficult conversations board members
abiding love for this building and what the Wheeler organization means to this community were
evident.
Ms. Childs inquired about rigging project on September 23rd when Mike Harrington arrives.
Michael Baca, Production Manager, responded that by September 23rd, 2024 all contractors and
sub-contractors (including structural and steel reinforcement) for the rigging project will be in the
Wheeler building. Mr. Baca expressed the hope that the Wheeler will turn over all renovations
fully to contractors and sub-contractors by the end of August, 2024. Ms. Rigsby Peterson noted
that rigging project is led fully by Michael Baca, production manager, Perry Kleespies of City of
Aspen Asset Department and Pete Hajdu, building maintenance supervisor.
Executive Director Lisa Rigsby Peterson provided the following Wheeler updates:
Summer has gone by in blaze of glory she remarked as she chronicled highlights. Two more
performances of Marriage of Figaro remain. Daniel Benavent advised that many present would
be joining for the last Figaro performance Saturday. Saturday evening production will strike the
stage and Sunday morning production team will begin preparing for the rigging project which is
on schedule. Video and still photos will capture progress of the rigging project as well as Aspen
Science Center in fall. Discussions will include science and some experiments will be
performed. The stage will be off limits due to safety concerns. When the project is completed in
early 2025 they’ll be invited back to see the progress. Nicole Levesque of marketing is working
on engaging a producer to capture documentation of the project. At the closing of this board
meeting, Dr. Kurt suggested a hard hat tour for board members of the rigging project. Michael
Baca, production manager, replied positively and offered to provide an update at the next board
meeting about the project and potential dates for a hard hat tour.
The vault bar lobby and box office will be open during the rigging project. There are two (2)
confirmed performances during the rigging project for vault bar lobby. Consensual Improv is
doing a Halloween Spooktacular and Aspen Historical Society will hold a special presentation
about the history of Aspen State Teachers College with the possibility of special guests on
Thursday, December 12th during the shifted date of Winterskol from January to December. A
few additional performances may be added in October and November on Thursday and Friday
nights as well as small scale performances in the vault bar lobby. The rigging project is an
aggressive one and production team will be highly involved in that work so consideration of
staffing is important.
Ms. Rigsby Peterson announced that there has been a request of Council for a fourth full time
production staff member. After additional input by Diane Foster of timing considerations for a
recommendation for the position from the board to Council, motion was made by Nina
Gabianelli, seconded by Amy Mountjoy and it was unanimously agreed that Chair Fuller would
draft a letter on behalf of the advisory board to Council and the matter be continued and brought
up again at the September 11 th Wheeler Advisory Board meeting for timing considerations.
Central City Opera has been engaged for (3) days’ touring programs with schools up and down
the valley and Ms. Rigsby Peterson expressed appreciation of Malia Machado, our outreach
coordinator, for her amazing work in building momentum for student outreach and bilingual
programs such as Frida Kahlo. When we re-open the main stage in January, at least one of the
shows will also have a student matinee component.
The winter-spring programming is coming along nicely with 11 shows confirmed and work has
begun on the Laugh Festival (which has shifted from February to mid-March - March 12th to 15th)
due to the challenges of Belly Up’s Palm Tree Festival presentation in February. Appreciation
was expressed that the March date will hopefully make travel easier for performers.
Work on additional programming January through April 2025 is underway. The Brian Regan date
has been announced and, as Diane Foster previously mentioned, we’ll announce shows as
they’re contracted as it helps people understand the volume of work happening here rather than
waiting for a date when everything is confirmed. Very shortly three more speakers will be
announced for Change Makers Series in 2025. This series builds on success greats such as
Andy Mann and Pete McBride-Kevin Fedarko – world class, sometimes National Geographic
explorers/adventurers which highlight amazing photography, videography, and personal stories.
Sometimes funny, often poignant. As contracts are finalized they’ll be announced and go on
sale.
Three (3) offerings in 2025 in the Change Makers Series:
January 17, 2025 - Brian Skerry featuring underwater photography and sharks in the Ocean
Soul Show.
February 7, 2025 – Peter Hillary (Sir Edmund Hillary’s son) will speak regarding 70 years of
Mount Everest.
March 28, 2025 – Cory Richards, climbing legend and mental health advocate, will present the
Color of Everything.
Ms. Rigsby Peterson will be working with Mike Harrington to coordinate the remainder of the
programming through January and the 2025 season. A great deal of programming has been
established and additional shows will be added. As Mike Harrington is confident he can take on
the work of programming himself, he’ll be responsible for programming the 2025/2026 season
beginning in the fall of 2025.
Gallery space update was also provided by Ms. Rigsby Peterson. DJ Watkins is doing a great
job at Aspen Collective. DJ is putting together an interim report to present to the board in
September or October. The Board discussed and agreed it best to wait for DJ’s presentation
until October when Mike Harrington has opportunity to be present and forge a relationship with
Mr. Watkins.
Staffing updates – the Wheeler is bidding fond farewell to Hannah Ritter box office supervisor
who is moving back to the southern part of the US to be near her family. We’re fortunate that
Ginger Kennington, who has been our ticketing coordinator (and formerly Theater Aspen box
office and much more) is willing and has been promoted into the box office supervisor position
making literally a seamless transition. Ms. Kennington was present and introduced to the board.
Advertisement is out for a new ticketing coordinator position now. Please encourage anyone
interested to apply.
The board discussed moving their September 11th, 2024 advisory board meeting until after Mr.
Harrington’s arrival in Aspen; however, Chair Fuller urged that the September meeting go on as
scheduled (with Ms. Rigsby Peterson running it and then Mr. Harrington running the October 9,
2024 Wheeler Advisory Board meeting.) Discussion ensued regarding board’s annual “skip”
meeting. No board meeting was held in June due to lack of quorum and the board met with the
Executive Director candidates in July in lieu of a regular meeting. Consideration was given to an
informal/welcoming meeting between the board and Mr. Harrington when he arrives.
Vice-Chair Mountjoy inquired of board members if there were any issues with future scheduled
meeting dates and there were none.
Ms. Rigsby Peterson announced that a thank you card for Lauren Forman was being circulated
for her services as an alternate board member and added that Ms. Forman has decided not to
reapply given her family obligations. No one has applied for that position which has a spring and
summer application period. Please encourage anyone interested to apply when the position is
advertised again.
Vice Chair Mountjoy presented a card and flowers from the board to Ms. Rigsby Peterson as
thanks for her 3 years of service to the Wheeler.
In closing, Ms. Mountjoy also mentioned Friday, August 23rd, 2024 at River Valley Ranch golf
course in Carbondale a fund raiser will be held for the Roaring Fork youth orchestra which
provides stringed instruments and instruction. Carbondale has no music program in the schools
for music education. Food and beverages will be offered in a lovely setting. She’ll email the
brochure and asked the information be shared with any donors.
There being no further items, Ms. Gabianelli moved to adjourn the meeting. Dr. Kurt seconded.
The motion passed and the meeting concluded at 3:42 P.M.
Future Meetings Schedule
September 11th, 2024 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
October 9th, 2024 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
November 13th, 2024 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm