At the end of April, Thunder River Theatre Company (TRTC) announced in its newsletter that it is embracing a new paradigm in its leadership. Following former executive director Sean Jeffries’ departure, Missy Moore and Danielle Taylor-Moxon will now lead the theater-nonprofit in partnership.
“I have a lot of faith in those two wonderful women. They’re incredibly capable, and if anyone can figure out a new modus operandi, it’s them,” Jeffries told The Sopris Sun.
This change in leadership is one of many things that TRTC is looking to implement as a theater company with big plans for secondary programming, including more intimate working relationships with local businesses, such as La Raza and The Painted Pig.
“One thing that we’re excited about going into next season in this co-leadership is that Dani and I are looking to think outside the box and see how we can activate the community as a theater company outside the theater’s doors,” Moore stated.
She explained that TRTC is gearing up for more dance-related art next season, a season which is itself being completely restructured as this transition settles.
“We’ve completely reimagined next season,” Moore continued. “I’ve truncated it so we close our season in mid-May, which means we’re in a true Henry cycle with the Colorado Theatre Guild. We’re also going to be doing a ton of secondary programming.”
Asked how the transition has gone so far, Taylor-Moxon expressed feelings of excitement while acknowledging the bittersweetness.
“It’s an ending of some things but a beginning of new things,” she said. “Missy and I are excited and thrilled to be able to step up and continue leading this company into the future and into a new era.”
The new era also features read-throughs of productions that are open for the public. This past Monday, May 13, saw a sneak peek of “POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive,” which Jeffries attended to provide a collaborative hand to the cast and director, Kate Gleason.
“To have that sneak peek, to be in the room when the actors are reading it aloud for the first time and the designers are talking about their concepts and the director is saying, ‘This is my vision;’ I think it’s very cool,” Moore stated. “Very rarely do patrons get that much of an insight into the rehearsal process.”
In a statement, Jeffries, who left the executive director role on April 15, said he decided to embark on a new journey after eight years of employment with the theater company. Speaking further with The Sopris Sun, he said he is looking to pursue his passion for design and building more intimately while still maintaining a working relationship with TRTC.
“I would say that my focus right now is just creating a world for myself where I have the freedom to take on theatrical designs that I want to and bolstering my income, like most other folks around here with several other enterprises,” he said.
Though he has stepped down, Jeffries will still be involved with the theater in other ways. He will be doing the fight choreography for the upcoming production and has been put on retainer for lighting design for summer events. He hopes the community doesn’t view this transition as negative.
“Missy and I have had many-a-conversation about how TRTC will still be my artistic home,” Jeffries assured. “My stepping away is by no means a negative thing; it should not be seen as a negative judgment on the theater. I want to be there supporting 110% anytime I can. It was just that I had to step away from it.”
To stay in the loop about what’s happening at TRTC and find ways to support, visit www.thunderrivertheatre.com