The New Normal—we hear about it every day, but what does it mean to your organization?

The 2012 Americans for the Arts Annual Convention this June 8–10 in San Antonio, TX will bring together more than 1,000 arts and community leaders to focus on how the arts field can function, change, and thrive in The New Normal—a landscape of economic uncertainty and shifting demographics.

Early Bird Registration now open.

Texans for the Arts, the official Arts Advocacy Organization for Texas, and The Texans for the Arts Foundation to host Arts Funding and Leadership Development Workshop

Save the Date!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

9:30AM ~ 4:30PM

The Long Center

Don’t miss this information packed workshop for arts administrators, arts organization’s board members and community arts advocates. The day will include a challenging professional development workshop with content for all levels and a primer on arts advocacy that will prepare you to be an effective advocate for the arts or other issues in your community.

Watch for you invitation and registration information

For More information Contact: mburketfa@gmail.com

Costs

$25 ~ TFA Member; $50 ~ additional person from a TFA member

$75 ~ Non-Member

($25 goes to one-year annual membership in TFA)

Prices include registration and lunch

January 30, 2012

6-8pm

Gourmand’s

2316 Webberville Road: map

Austin, TX 78702

Let us know you are coming: RSVP

About our guest speakers:

Jesus Pantel is an Austin grant writer and development consultant—familiar with both sides of the grant writing process, having worked as a grant writer for a nonprofit organization and currently administering grants for one of Austin’s major arts funders.

Jessica Thompson spent three years working at the Austin Creative Alliance, first as the Outreach Director and then as the Cultural Concierge Director.  During her time with the organization, she co-chaired the Austin Emerging Art Leaders Network with Jesus Pantel.  In 2009, she led the ‘Dine-Around’ discussion on forming emerging leader networks at the National Arts and Marketing Project Conference for the Americans for the Arts.  Prior to moving to Austin, Thompson was the founding director of the Foundation of Retaining Creative Energy in Madison, WI.  There she served on the Americans for the Arts Emerging Leaders Council.  Thompson’s organization joined Arts Wisconsin in forming Wisconsin Emerging Art Leaders Network and was the co-host of the 2007 Emerging Leaders of Wisconsin Summit.

Outstanding Contribution to Austin Theatre

Latifah Taormina

Latifah Taormina, 2011 Outstanding Contribution to Austin Theatre

PLAYS FOR YOUTH

Outstanding Production of a Play for Youth

A Year With Frog and Toad Summer Stock Austin

Outstanding Direction of a Play for Youth

Rudy Ramirez The Physicists

Outstanding Performer in a Play for Youth

David Meissner (Momo, Henry, Man, Watch Seller, Jean-Paul) The Adventures of Iris and Momo

MUSIC THEATRE

Outstanding Production of Music Theatre

I’ve Never Been So Happy Rude Mechanicals and Center Theatre Group

Outstanding Direction of Music Theatre

Thomas Graves and Lana Lesley I’ve Never Been So Happy

Outstanding Lead Actor in Music Theatre

Andrew Cannata (Austin) I Love You Because

Outstanding Lead Actress in Music Theatre

Haley Smith (Marcy) I Love You Because

Outstanding Featured Actor in Music Theatre

Brian Coughlin (Edna Turnblad) Hairspray

Outstanding Featured Actress in Music Theatre

Janis Stinson (Motormouth Maybelle) Hairspray

COMEDIES

Outstanding Production of a Comedy

The Dudleys!: A Family Game TUTTO Theatre Company

Outstanding Direction of a Comedy

Gary Jaffe The Dudleys!: A Family Game

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy

Shelby Davenport (Jack Tanner) Man and Superman

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy

Lauren Lane (Barbara Fordham) August: Osage County

Outstanding Featured

Actor in a Comedy

Michael Stuart (Charlie Aiken) August: Osage County

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Comedy

Chris Humphrey (Nanna) MilkMilkLemonade

DRAMAS

Outstanding Production of a Drama

Frankenstein: The Trouble Puppet Show Trouble Puppet Theater Company

Outstanding Direction of a Drama

Connor Hopkins Frankenstein: The Trouble Puppet Show

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama

Justin Scalise (Hamlet) Hamlet [Scottish Rite Theatre and Black Swan Events]

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama

Babs George (Martha) Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Drama

Travis Dean (Baylor) A Lie o

f the Mind

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Drama

Rebecca Robinson (Beth) A Lie of the Mind

GENERAL CATEGORIES

Outstanding Set Design

Ia Ensterä Here Comes Gosling!

Outstanding Light Design

Natalie George Baal

Outstanding Sound Design

Leegrid Stevens The Dudleys!: A Family Game

Outstanding Costume Design

Susan Branch Towne Hairspray

Outstanding Music Direction

Chris Humphrey The Elementals: AIR

Outstanding Dance Choreography

Melinda Rebman and Zenobia Taylor The Dudleys!: A Family Game

Outstanding Fight Choreography

Travis Dean Hunter Gatherers

Outstanding Original Script

Leegrid Stevens The Dudleys!: A Family Game

Outstanding Original Score

Leegrid Stevens The Dudleys!: A Family Game

Outstanding Media Design

Dan Monceaux, Angela Hill, David Bengali, Jordan Rein, Josh Lampman, David Mauro, Camilo Munar and Jake Witlen The Dudleys!: A Family Game

Outstanding Puppetry

Frankenstein: The Trouble Puppet Show Trouble Puppet Theater Company

Outstanding Cast Performance

The Dudleys!: A Family Game TUTTO Theatre Company

Outstanding Ensemble Performance

Roderick Sanford and Joshua Denning (Tom Collins and Angel Dumont Schunard) RENT

Outstanding Young Performer

Joshua Michael Braun (Newton) The Physicists

Rudy Kloptik Award for Outstanding Work in Improvisational Theatre

Confidence Men The Institution Theater

Special Certificates

Biography of Physical Sensation – Rubber Repertory, Salvage Vanguard Theater, Rude Mechanicals and Fusebox Festival

I’ve Never Been So Happy: A Western Musical & Transmedia Shindig – Rude Mechanicals

The Council is comprised of a group of volunteers who remain focused on recognizing artistic excellence within the Austin theatre community, and will continue with creation and distribution of the nomination ballot for voting community members.

Marcy Hoen, Interim Executive Director of Austin Creative Alliance says, “We are so proud that this venerable Austin tradition, which has been woven into our own history as an organization, has now grown to the point where it can spin off into its own, distinct organization.” She adds, “We look forward to many years of collaboration with the Council.”

BIPAC on Monday also announced the nominees and details for the October 24^th Awards ceremony, which will be held at the State Theatre. List of nominees—on which members of the newly formed BIPAC can vote—are listed in full below.

Voting members will pay a small membership fee to BIPAC.  100% of membership fees will be used to fund the annual B. Iden Payne Awards ceremony, as well as cover administrative costs associated with creation and distribution of the nomination ballot each season.

To purchase tickets click here or  call 512.474.1221

The Nominees Are:

PLAYS FOR YOUTH

Outstanding Production

Here Comes Gosling! Pollyanna Theatre Company

Just So ZACH Performing Arts School

Monsters! kidsActing

The Physicists VORTEX Summer Youth Theatre

A Year With Frog and Toad Summer Stock Austin

Outstanding Direction

Dede Clark            Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

Judy Matetzschk-Campbell            Here Comes Gosling!

Michael McKelvey            A Year With Frog and Toad

Rudy Ramirez            The Physicists

Adam Roberts            Just So

Outstanding Performer

Sophia Franzella (Mouse, Young Frog, Squirrel, Stumpy Tree)            A Year With Frog and Toad

Dylan Kittleman (Maurice)            Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

Julie Linnard (Chunk, Admiral Pekin Duck)            Ducks vs. Squirrels: Battle for the Park

David Meissner (Momo, Henry, Man, Watch Seller, Jean-Paul)

The Adventures of Iris and Momo

MUSIC THEATER

Outstanding Production

Hairspray ZACH Theatre

Hillcountry Underbelly: A Pilgrimage on the Outskirts paper chairs

I Love You Because Penfold Theatre Company

I’ve Never Been So Happy Rude Mechanicals and Center Theatre Group

Urinetown: The Musical Summer Stock Austin

Outstanding Direction

Bonnie Cullum            The Elementals: AIR

Thomas Graves and Lana Lesley            I’ve Never Been So Happy

Michael McKelvey            I Love You Because

Michael McKelvey            Urinetown: The Musical

Dustin Wills            Baal

Outstanding Lead Actor

Andrew Cannata (Austin)            I Love You Because

Arthur DiBianca (Ko-Ko)            The Mikado

Zach Green (Leo Bloom)            The Producers

Tyler King (Officer Lockstock)            Urinetown: The Musical

Trevor McGinnis (Max Bialystock)            The Producers

Outstanding Lead Actress

Kylie Baker (Housewife)            di[verge]: an original play with songs

Elizabeth Newchurch (Julie Jordan)            Carousel

Brooke Shapiro (Tracy Turnblad)            Hairspray

Haley Smith (Marcy)            I Love You Because

Outstanding Featured Actor

Aaron D. Alexander (FunkBot)            Mighty Five’s Infinite Funk Odyssey

Brian Coughlin (Edna Turnblad)            Hairspray

Joey Hood (Ekart)            Baal

Tyler Mount (Roger Debris)            The Producers

Alejandro Rodriguez (Woof)            Hair

Outstanding Featured Actress

Chase Crossno (Svettka, Luise, Older Sister, Young Lady)            Baal

Amy Downing (Velma Von Tussle) [June 29-Aug. 28]            Hairspray

Amy Downing (Diana)            I Love You Because

Sophia Franzella (Little Sally)            Urinetown: The Musical

Janis Stinson (Motormouth Maybelle)            Hairspray

COMEDIES

Outstanding Production

August: Osage County ZACH Theatre

The Dudleys!: A Family Game TUTTO Theatre Company

Hunter Gatherers Capital T Theatre

An Englishwoman Abroad: Tea in Tripoli Austin Phoenix Productions & Bernadette Nason

Vigil Hyde Park Theatre

Outstanding Direction

Gary Jaffe            The Dudleys!: A Family Game

Mark Pickell            Hunter Gatherers

Dave Steakley            August: Osage County

Don Toner            Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps

Estevan J. “Chuy” Zarate            Dos Pocitos

Outstanding Lead Actor

Shelby Davenport (Jack Tanner)            Man and Superman

Owen Egerton (everyone)            The Other Side of Sleep

Robert Pierson (Ibsen)            Heddatron

Charles P. Stites (Kerr)            Chesapeake

Xaq Webb (Emory)            MilkMilkLemonade

Outstanding Lead Actress

Elizabeth Bigger (Janice)            Crumble (Lay Me Down, Justin Timberlake)

Lana Dieterich (Violet Weston)            August: Osage County

Lauren Lane (Barbara Fordham)            August: Osage County

Bernadette Nason (herself)            An Englishwoman Abroad: Tea in Tripoli

Martina Ohlhauser (Victoria)            Too Many Husbands

Outstanding Featured Actor

Jon Wayne Martin (the men)            On the Verge

Rupert Reyes (Uile)            Dos Pocitos

Michael Stuart (Charlie Aiken)            August: Osage County

Jericho Thorp (Elliot)            MilkMilkLemonade

Mical Trejo (Mervyn)            A Behanding in Spokane

Outstanding Featured Actress

Jennifer Coy (Mary)            Cardigan

Jenny Gravenstein (Mac)            “The Thief of Tears”, Three Viewings

Chris Humphrey (Nanna)            MilkMilkLemonade

Breanna Stogner (women)            Down the Drain

Irene White (Ivy Weston)            August: Osage County

DRAMAS

Outstanding Production

Frankenstein: The Trouble Puppet Show Trouble Puppet Theater Company

Hedda Gabler Palindrome Theatre

A Lie of the Mind Capital T Theatre

Paradise Key a chick and a dude productions

Topdog/Underdog City Theatre Company

Outstanding Direction

Connor Hopkins            Frankenstein: The Trouble Puppet Show

Lisa Jordan            Topdog/Underdog

Melissa Livingston            Paradise Key

Christina J. Moore            Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Don Toner            The Trip to Bountiful

Outstanding Lead Actor

Collin Bjork (Equality 7-2521)            Anthem

Tom Green (Dr. Halb)            Paradise Key

Joey Hood (Jerry)            The Zoo Story

Ev Lunning, Jr. (George)            Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Justin Scalise (Hamlet)            Hamlet [Scottish Rite Theatre and Black Swan Events]

Outstanding Lead Actress

Mary Agen Cox (Carrie Watts)            The Trip to Bountiful

Dawn Erin (Ann Martin)            Defiant

Babs George (Martha)            Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Meredith McCall (Linda Waterman)            Fiction

Rebecca Robinson (Hannah Jelkes)            The Night of the Iguana

Outstanding Featured Actor

Aaron D. Alexander (Papi)            Fight

Travis Dean (Baylor)            A Lie of the Mind

Micah Goodding (Aaron McKinney, Stephen Belber)            The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later

Daniel Sawtelle (Slim)            Of Mice and Men

Jacob Trussell (DJ Snowstorm)            Flying

Outstanding Featured Actress

Shannon Grounds (Fool)            Lear

Sadé Jones (Lady in Green)

for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf

Julia Lorenz-Olsen (Ophelia)            Hamlet [Scottish Rite Theatre and Black Swan Events]

Rebecca Robinson (Beth)            A Lie of the Mind

Gricelda Silva (Bushy Tail)            Flying

GENERAL CATEGORIES

Outstanding Set Design

Ia Ensterä            Here Comes Gosling!

Lisa Laratta            Baal

Lisa Laratta            Heddatron

Anne McMeeking            Fight

Michael Raiford            August: Osage County

Outstanding Lighting Design

Kathryn Eader            Eurydice

Natalie George            Baal

Stephen Pruitt            Frankenstein: The Trouble Puppet Show

Stephen Pruitt            I’ve Never Been So Happy

Steven Shirey            Flying

Steven Shirey            Uncle Vanya

Outstanding Sound Design

the company            Baal

the Gunn Brothers            Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps

Buzz Moran            Heddatron

Justin Sherburn            Flying

Leegrid Stevens            The Dudleys!: A Family Game

Outstanding Costume Design

Dawn Allee, Pam Martin and Jennifer Davis

A Midsummer Night’s Dream [The Baron’s Men]

Glenda Barnes            Urinetown: The Musical

Ia Ensterä             Here Comes Gosling!

Pam Friday            MilkMilkLemonade

Susan Branch Towne            Hairspray

Outstanding Music Direction

Chris Humphrey            The Elementals: AIR

Michael McKelvey            I Love You Because

Michael McKelvey            Urinetown: The Musical

Allen Robertson            Hairspray

Michael “Thuso” Stevens            Ti-Jean and His Brothers

Outstanding Dance Choreography

Danny Herman and Rocker Verastique            Carousel

Robin Lewis            Hairspray

Ananda Mayi Moss and Sadé Jones

for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf

Melinda Rebman and Zenobia Taylor            The Dudleys!: A Family Game

Adam Roberts and Jennifer Young            Just So

Outstanding Fight Choreography

Travis Dean            Hunter Gatherers

Toby Minor            Lear

Outstanding Original Script

Trey Deason            Cardigan

Raul Garza            Dos Pocitos

Kirk Lynn            I’ve Never Been So Happy

Bernadette Nason            An Englishwoman Abroad: Tea in Tripoli

Leegrid Stevens            The Dudleys!: A Family Game

Outstanding Original Score

Adam Glasseye Beckley and Reverend Glasseye            Woyzeck

Rob Greenfield and Andy Tindall            Baal

Jerry Hagins, Jesse Gregg and Chris Peterson            A Lie of the Mind

Chris Humphrey            The Elementals: AIR

Peter Stopschinski            I’ve Never Been So Happy

Leegrid Stevens            The Dudleys!: A Family Game

Outstanding Media Design

Owen Egerton and Les McGehee            The Other Side of Sleep

Lettuce Turnip Media and Robert Jacques            Frankenstein: The Trouble Puppet Show

Miwa Matreyek            I’ve Never Been So Happy

Dan Monceaux, Angela Hill, David Bengali, Jordan Rein, Josh Lampman,

David Mauro, Camilo Munar and Jake Witlen            The Dudleys!: A Family Game

Will Hollis Snider            di[verge]: an original play with songs

Outstanding Puppetry

Frankenstein: The Trouble Puppet Show Trouble Puppet Theater Company

Heddatron Salvage Vanguard Theater

Outstanding Cast Performance

The Dudleys!: A Family Game TUTTO Theatre Company

Hunter Gatherers Capital T Theatre

I’ve Never Been So Happy Rude Mechanicals

Morning’s at Seven Different Stages

Topdog/Underdog City Theatre Company

Outstanding Ensemble Performance

David Stahl and Michael Stuart (Clown 1 and Clown 2)            Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps

Angelica Faye Davis, Kia Dawn Fulton and Tiffany Mann (the Dynamites)            Hairspray

David Meissner and Toby Minor (Rabbit and Froggie)            Here Comes Gosling!

Alejandro McDonald-Villarreal, Aaron Niemuth, Eva McQuade, Heath Thompson,

Gene Storie and Samantha Smith (the mechanicals)

A Midsummer Night’s Dream [The Baron’s Men]

Roderick Sanford and Joshua Denning (Tom Collins and Angel Dumont Schunard)            RENT

Outstanding Young Performer

Ryan Borses (Toad)            A Year With Frog and Toad

Joshua Michael Braun (Newton)            The Physicists

Keith Gruber (Kolokolo Bird)            Just So

Ben Roberts (Bobby Lazenbee)            Monsters!

Xander Slay-Tamkin (Möbius)            The Physicists

Rudy Kloptik Award for Outstanding Work in Improvisational Theatre

Austin Secrets            The Hideout Theatre

Confidence Men            The Institution Theater

Get Up            Gnap! Theater Projects

The Megaphone Show            The New Movement Theater

Midnight Society            ColdTowne Theater

UPDATE!

As I’m sure you know, we had our second installment of the Crisis and Opportunity discussion forum last week. Unfortunately, we realize not all interested parties could attend the event with keynote speaker Matt Lehrman of Arizona’s Alliance for Audience and ShowUp.com.

Do not fear, however, we have his notes from the discussion including tons of information, discussion points, and more. Think of it as if Matt Lehrman was a rock star and we snagged his set list and we’re now are posting it up for all of you to enjoy. You can find those notes right here.

As always, if you have any thoughts/comments/concerns about Crisis and Opportunity 2.0, please share them on the Facebook Crisis and Opportunity Community page.

_____________________________________________________________________________
Thank you to all who attended the Crisis & Opportunity open meeting on June 7th. We were pleased that so many of you took the time to gather with us for discussion. On July 28th, from 6-8:30pm, we will be back at the MACC for a follow-up-forum.

After conversations with attendees, and review of comments and suggestions, we felt we had a clear direction for the next gathering. We heard from most of you that innovation and collaboration were among the foremost topics on our minds, and so we are very excited to be bringing Matt Lehrman of Arizona’s Alliance for Audience and ShowUp.com to present his customized seminar–and upcoming book–Audiences Everywhere!

With Audiences Everywhere, Lehrman offers original, thought-provoking and highly impactful strategies by which individual organizations – as well as entire arts cultural communities – can work to broaden, deepen and revitalize audience and member engagement.

This will be an interactive session where your thoughts and ideas can be expressed and developed, with the aim of gaining clear actionable goals.

We’d love for you to join us to continue this conversation.

For more information, stay tuned to AustinCreativeAlliance.org , Nowplayingaustin.wordpress​.com, @AustinCreativeA on Twitter, and of course, right there on Facebook.

Here is a review of Lehrman’s most recent seminar for Arts Orange County:
“ Anyone who knows Matt or has seen one of his presentations knows that this is one enthusiastic and dynamic arts marketer. But this presentation demonstrated quite clearly that there is enormous substance behind what Matt is advocating. It was a well-thought out, clear-headed workshop, peppered with Matt’ s unique brand of humor, and with ample opportunities for interaction with the attendees.” – Rick Stein, Executive Director, Arts Orange County

On who should attend, Lehrman has this to say: ” …this is not just a discussion for Marketing Directors. This discussion has to involve Artistic Directors, Curators, artists, Education directors, CEO’s, Board members and your organization’s leadership team – and because we are talking about new paradigms and new technologies – I very much recommend that you involve some of your organization’s emerging leaders and rising stars in this discussion. Their fresh perspective is really valuable to this discussion.”

Check out Matt’s Invitation here:

For more information about the program and details about the types of performances we seek, please visit The Creative Fund’s website.

To become a member of The Creative Fund, click here.

Due to state and federal regulatory issues, some artists on E.A.S.T.’s unique tour need upgrades to their studios. FRAMEWORKS E.A.S.T. gives us an opportunity to give them a hand by raising the seed money to fund a microlending program to provide these great artists quick, low-interest loans with forgiving plans to help with specific issues involving their studios. This will allow them to comply with code in time for the East Austin Studio Tour this fall. With your support, the ACA will provide micro-lending, consulting and a resource center to help artists and their studios comply with Federal and State standards.

FRAMEWORKS E.A.S.T. provides a way for you to show your support for E.A.S.T.’s artists, as well as a chance to bid on specially selected works from those artists. Join us for live music by The Pons and the Ron Titter Band, refreshments, good times, and more, June 29th, 7:30 at ND.

Individual tickets are $20, available at AusTIX, also, we invite you to sponsor the event to provide a strong foundation for the lending program. Sponsorship levels are as follows:

$250 – Apprentice
$500 – Journeyman
$1,000 – Master

For more information about becoming a Sponsor of Frameworks:E.A.S.T. please visit http://austincreativealliance.roundtablelive.org/east or call at (512) 247-2531.

Thanks so much to our sponsors!

And to our donating artists!

Thanks so much for all the help from:

Our Glorious Sponsors:
Austin Creative Alliance http://www.austincreativealliance.org/
Big Medium http://www.bigmedium.org/
ND at 501 Studios http://ndvenue.com/
The Pons http://theponsmusic.com/
Ron Titter Band http://www.therontitterband.com/
Moxie Realty Group http://www.http/://moxierealtygroup.info/
Tito’s Vodka http://titosvodka.com/
Zoltan David Atelier http://www.zoltandavid.com/
Premier Residential Mortgage of Texas http://www.prmtx.com/

In-Kind Donators:
Blue Starlite Urban Drive-In
Austin Shakespeare
Zach Theater
Long Center
Austin Symphony
Esther’s Follies
The Vortex
Austin Chamber Music Center
Advanced Watch Group
Hotel St. Ceclia
Farmhouse Delivery
Spartan & Bows + Arrows
FaceKandy
Ann Marie Skincare
Art on 5th
Kendra Scott Earrings
Justine’s
Elements Laser Spa
Retro Chanel

Contributing Artists:

Individual tickets are $20, available at
http://nowplayingaustin.tix.com/Schedule.asp?ActCode=65425, also, we invite
you to sponsor the event to provide a strong foundation for the lending program.

Sponsorship levels are as follows:
$250 – Apprentice
$500 – Journeyman
$1,000 – Master

For more information about becoming a Sponsor of Frameworks:E.A.S.T. please
visit http://austincreativealliance.roundtablelive.org/east or call at (512) 247-2531

Following the successful forum, KXAN did a piece featuring the Austin Creative Alliance and Crisis and Opportunity forum and how it reflects the arts in Austin.

See our most recent thoughts and a letter to the community about Crisis and Opportunity here!

Check out notes on the event here!

Robert Faires’ Chronicle article on Crisis and Opportunity here.

Check our tweets @austincreativea and @wyattbrand, and #crisisandopp for highlights from the night and future updates!

We’ll be posting more information and a survey on topic for the next meeting soon, so stay tuned!

Marcy Hoen comes to the Austin Creative Alliance after 7 years as an entrepreneur and passionate advocate of the arts in Austin. She founded Austin Art Start in the fall of 2006 and her work has included consulting with the AUSTIN STATE HOSPITAL, GRUBB & ELLIS REALTY INVESTORS’ art installations, private curation of professional art shows with independent artists, business consulting for artists and collection consulting with private collectors. Her volunteer work includes board service for FUSEBOX, volunteer work with RUDE MECHANICALS, CATALYST 8, the BOOTSTRAP NETWORK, and ART ALLIANCE AUSTIN.

Marcy grew up in the Pacific Northwest, however, Austin has long become her home. She earned her BA from the University of Washington where she worked post-graduation as a research specialist studying brain chemistry. She loves food, cooking and two-stepping and she lives with her fiancé, Bijoy Goswami and their two furry children, Fergus and Jelly Bean.

Marcy will be filling the incredibly large shoes of outgoing Executive Director, Latifah Taormina, who officially announced her retirement last Fall at the 2010 B. Iden Payne Awards, and announced Marcy’s coming on during the 2011 Association of Performing Arts Service Organizations Conference, this year held in Austin and hosted by the Austin Creative Alliance.

“Marcy is perfect,” Latifah says. “She’s involved with the creative community on many levels, she’s connected with Austin’s young professionals, she’s action oriented and visionary. I always knew that it would be my job to get Austin Circle of Theaters to become the Creative Alliance and to guide that process forward. I never thought that running the Alliance would be my job to do. So I’m thrilled that we’ve found the right person to lead the organization forward from here.