Meet the Dallas 500: Kenneth Novice

Kenneth Novice joined Dallas Summer time Musicals—which final month introduced a rebranding to Broadway Dallas— in 2017. Since his entrance into the nonprofit, Novice has packed the Music Corridor at Honest Park with greater than 100,000 followers per present a number of occasions over. He additionally was the primary to deliver again Broadway performances after COVID-19 lockdowns.

Broadway Dallas’ new tag line: “‘Far more than summer season; far more than musicals’ precisely [captures] who we’re and what we do,” Novice stated.

Schooling: San Diego State College (MBA-Administration), The Pennsylvania State College (BA-Theater)

Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

First Job: “I used to be a public relations assistant at Circle Repertory Firm, an Off-Broadway Theater in New York Metropolis. This expertise was what opened my eyes to the chances within the theater subject from a administration and producing perspective. It additionally gave me a first-hand expertise within the growth of recent performs from a number of the most notable names within the subject at the moment, Director, Marshall Mason and Playwright, Lanford Wilson.”

Greatest Recommendation: “As soon as I noticed that my path within the theater subject was to seek out methods to see that this artwork kind—that may not solely entertain and enthrall but additionally change hearts and minds—reaches as many individuals as doable and to develop new works to additional this mission I used to be given recommendation to observe any path by the sector as essential to advance towards that purpose. My path from there went by nearly each space of the sector and ready me for the last word purpose.”

Dinner Celebration: “I might have dinner with Dale Petroskey and Cynt Marshall. I’ve really had dinner with Dale earlier than however I welcome the subsequent time as a result of his insights into the enterprise neighborhood, what makes Dallas nice, learn how to proceed the super progress and excellence within the Dallas enterprise neighborhood are second to none. He’s an incredible connector and champion for all components of town and I’ve all the time been grateful for his steering and connections. For Cynt, I see an in depth hyperlink between theater and sports activities—each fields that have interaction audiences in drama and pleasure but additionally have immense impression on communities, studying, and the expansion of Dallas college students. As Broadway Dallas appears to be like to broaden its work in communities round Honest Park, to associate with South Dallas arts organizations, to combat in opposition to racial inequities, and make our venues a welcoming place for these residents who’re nonetheless harmed by inequities—I might a lot wish to be taught from Cynt how she has executed this with the Dallas Mavericks. She is one my native heroes.”

Locations of Selection: “I like going to New York to see Broadway exhibits! It’s one thing that I do for enterprise however I additionally completely take pleasure in seeing new work on stage. I like visiting my household in Pittsburgh, the place I grew up; my mother nonetheless lives in the home I grew up in, in Mt. Lebanon the place the highschool there was my inspiration for following a profession in theater. I take pleasure in visiting the mountains of Colorado and Utah, particularly within the winter for snowboarding and winter sports activities. And, I like worldwide locations…I’d love to return to Southeast Asia.”

Nonprofit Trigger: “Seeing as I work for the theater, I absolutely consider within the mission of theater and assist it any approach that I can. As well as, my spouse and I’ve supported medical analysis associated to blood cancers and HIV/AIDS. At Broadway Dallas, we launched workers volunteer days to assist Metropolis Sq. and the distribution of meals to meals insecure households in southern Dallas. Throughout the pandemic we added this aspect to our neighborhood work as a result of we consider that we have to associate with organizations throughout town that handle matters past schooling inequities but additionally meals inequities.”

Hobbies/Passions: “I like participating in outside endurance sports activities equivalent to operating, biking and swimming. My spouse and I did an Ironman Triathlon collectively the 12 months we bought married and it mixed these three sports activities that we love. We’re additionally avid skiers and look to the mountains every time we will. I’m additionally a giant fan of Indycar racing (I’ve gone to the Indy 500 nearly yearly since I used to be 13).”

Native Fare: “We love going to Pho is for Lovers. We developed a passion for pho through the years they usually do a fantastic job with it.”

Enjoyable Truth: “My spouse and I went on an journey to Nepal to trek to Base Camp Everest. It was an extended two-week trek by superb surroundings, offered an introduction to the superb individuals of Nepal who dwell at excessive altitude day-to-day and was a difficult journey. It’s one thing we are going to always remember.”

Hardest Problem: “Working a theater throughout the COVID-19 pandemic was essentially the most difficult second in my profession. Seeing our enterprise shut down for nearly a 12 months and a half, having to chop budgets, staffing, and programming was brutal. Seeing the very livelihoods of individuals impacted dramatically was heartbreaking. On the identical time, rapidly studying about getting payments handed by congress and collaborating in that course of to create a path out of the pandemic for the theater subject was energizing, troublesome, however extraordinarily rewarding. Seeing America’s theater roaring again has been inspirational and I’m proud that we led the way in which with the primary Broadway present in North America.”

Second Dwelling: “We do have a second house in California. My spouse grew up in California and I lived there for 27 years so sustaining a connection to our household and pals has been vital for us.”

A Higher DFW: “I might like to see a number of the boundaries to communities damaged down. That is perhaps freeways that lower town into blocks or historic redlining that has created inequities for individuals of coloration. These must be addressed head-on. We have to have clear and direct conversations about race and the way Dallas can lead the nation in changing into a reworked anti-racist metropolis.”

Stroll-up Track: “I might play the tune ‘The Enemy Inside’ from the band Rush. I like the lyric, ‘To you is it motion or is it motion? Is it contact or simply response? And also you-revolution or simply resistance? Is it dwelling or simply existence? It takes just a little for persistence to rise up and go the gap.’”

Largest Danger: “Shifting to New York proper out of undergrad. I didn’t know a soul in New York, I didn’t have a spot to dwell, and I had a small sum of money that needed to carry me by. I’m very glad that I took that threat and ended up getting a job in New York theater—I knew that’s the place my profession would begin.”

Handling Competitors: “I see competitors differently within the theater subject. I do know that when a patron attends a dwell theater occasion at a theater down the road, they are going to seemingly come to my theater subsequent. So, I need to assist the work of all arts organizations in Dallas. I’ve come throughout superb arts leaders in Dallas who perceive this idea too, and have partnered with Broadway Dallas to construct audiences for the entire arts (AT&T Performing Arts Heart, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Cara Mia Theater, and others). Collectively we will construct a thriving arts ecosystem in Dallas that shall be second to none in the USA. And, Dallas has the power to steer the nation on this work.”