Meet Your Neighbor: Kara Bechstein is inspired by her Renaissance Theatre coworkers
Theatrical performances require collaboration. Interpersonal connections are a bedrock of a community’s strength.
Meet your neighbor, Kara Bechstein, programming manager at Renaissance Performing Arts in downtown Mansfield.
Connecting with audiences is integral to the growth that The Ren hopes to continue. Bechstein is tasked with programming shows that engage patrons across generations — young and old.
“I really try to make sure we have something for everyone — whether you’re 2 or 92,” shared Bechstein. “People have been coming here for generations. We’ve grown along with (their families).”
Her daughter’s involvement at The Ren led to Mom’s new job.
“I was actually bringing my daughter here to be a part of MY Theatre (Mansfield Youth Theatre) shows and the RYOT (Renaissance Youth Opera Theatre) shows,” said Bechstein.
She noted that Dauphne Maloney founded the MY Theatre program and is currently rehearsing for "Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella" while Lori Turner directs RYOT.
Since she was there so much, Beckstein says she ended up working at The Ren and in April will mark her fifth anniversary. She wasn’t always in programming but has worn many different hats.
“I’ve kind of learned a job in each department that we have here,” Bechstein said. “I’ve been in programming for about two years now.”
Programming for the future
Engagement with patrons is critical to growth, according to Bechstein. Renaissance staff always post on multiple social media platforms to direct the public to the website and to hear what they want to see — or don’t want. The responses, she said, are "fantastic.”
The current season ends in May. The 2024 - 2025 season begins in July, and she says it's usually announced in April.
Coming off the COVID-19 economic downturn, the Renaissance continues to do "mission-based" work to grow its support.
The Ren’s website states, “The mission of the Renaissance is to foster greater human connection and understanding through performing arts experiences that inspire, engage, and educate all people.”
“We’re growing and we’re getting bigger,” Bechstein noted. “We’re slowly able to bring in bigger acts here and it’s really exciting.”
Her coworkers inspire her daily, she shared.
“I work with people who are extremely passionate about what they do. All of these people are so immensely talented," said Bechstein. "They bring so much to The Ren. It’s remarkable to just sit down and hear their ideas and just watch the processes all fit into place. It’s inspiring.”
Readers can suggest future "Meet Your Neighbor" profiles to correspondent Joe Di Lullo at muckrack.com/dilulloj or jp.dilullo0926@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Kara Bechstein works to bring entertainment to all ages in Mansfield
