Urbanite Theatre co-founder departing for new position in Chicago area
When they launched Urbanite Theatre nine years ago as an intimate home for new and provocative plays, FSU/Asolo Conservatory graduates Summer Wallace and Brendan Ragan were ahead of a growing curve of theater companies that are run by more than one artistic leader sharing responsibilities.
But after producing more than 50 local plays, many of which they either directed or performed in, Ragan plans to leave in April to become artistic director of Metropolis Performing Arts Center in Arlington Heights, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. Wallace will become Urbanite's Producing Artistic Director and one of the few female leaders of a Sarasota area theater company.
“It’s tough because when you start something from scratch, you find yourself working on it at hours of the day that you wouldn’t normally be working in a different kind of job because you love it and feel it belongs to you,” Ragan said.
Arts Newsletter: Sign up to receive the latest news on the Sarasota area arts scene every Monday
Festivals, concerts, arts and more: 100-plus fun things to do in April in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties
Classics and new works: See what's coming to Sarasota's Asolo Rep with its 2023-24 lineup
But then “an opportunity comes along where you can’t say no. Not only is this a wonderful professional opportunity, but it’s also a personal opportunity for me as well. I had a tough period of reflection when I needed to think of whether I wanted to take it, but ultimately found it to be an easy decision.”
Wallace said the new job is a “wonderful opportunity for Brendan to move to a bigger city and for him to work for a company on a bigger scale, with bigger budgets, bigger staff and bigger shows.”
Urbanite’s theater space, which was built by the duo’s former business partner, Harry Lipstein, for the company on Second Street in downtown Sarasota, seats between 50 and 70 people, depending on the production design.
World premiere: Veteran tries virtual reality to treat PTSD in Urbanite Theatre production
Meet Brian L. Boyd: Rising actor finds a home at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe
A new twist on traditions: Ringling Bros. brings back 'Greatest Show' for 50-city tour. But is it still a circus?
Since the company made its debut with the American premiere of “Chicken Shop” in 2015, Wallace and Ragan have divided the work load, but both were involved in season planning and casting. Ragan handled more of the marketing aspects and Wallace oversaw contracts and negotiations with guest artists.
Nearly a decade of growth
The company also has grown from a two-person operation to a team with four full-time staff members and several part-time employees.
Wallace said she is excited about being sole artistic director and having more autonomy, while also overseeing new strategic planning for the future. “One of my goals is to really institute more planning for the company so Urbanite outsurvives me and we have a long-lasting footprint in the community.”
She hopes to expand educational programming with interns and do more with artistic fellows who will work for a year, or on specific productions.
Ragan said Metropolis produces its own works, presents as many as 70 one-night performances (cabaret shows, bands, comedians), and has an active performing arts school with classes throughout the year and a summer camp.
It employs professional actors and produces much larger productions than Urbanite could afford to stage or fit in its intimate space. Upcoming productions include the musicals “Ragtime” and “Xanadu.”
“I’m yearning to take on a big majestic musical or a big classic comedy. That’s certainly part of a theatermaker’s vocabulary.”
He said he is confident that Urbanite will thrive after he leaves.
“Theater by its very nature was meant to change. One of the motivating factors in deciding which works to do is have we done something like this before, have we told this kind of story, have we had this topic,” Ragan said. “Urbanite will stay that way. It will constantly look at topics and people and ideas. That’s one of the reasons people love coming to Urbanite because of the surprise.”
Follow Jay Handelman on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Contact him at jay.handelman@heraldtribune.com. And please support local journalism by subscribing to the Herald-Tribune.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Urbanite Theatre losing one of its co-founders and artistic directors
