Susan Thomae-Morphew is the director of the R. Don Fine and Performing Arts Center. “So focused on the future in this job, it is like the previous years have just meshed together,” said Thomae-Morphew, who marked her ninth year in the position on Feb. 1.
Susan Thomae-Morphew
She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance, a Master of Education in dance and a Master of Fine Arts in theater arts management.
As a director, she said her job is a “presenter.” She books international talent, but also is used for campus and community events such as commencement ceremonies, Tyler Ballet, East Texas Symphony Orchestra, Tyler Junior College Nutcracker performance, Texas Rose Festival and other events.
The Cowan Center includes an auditorium and a recital hall.
Q: Have you ever been in a production at the Cowan Center? Would you want to be in one? A: No, I’m just a presenter. I only book national and international touring performances, no local talent. The Cowan Center is in its 12th season and second decade. Its added focus during the second decade is to reach out to the community more and allow a hands-on connection between the artist and community. We try to make it an easier access to various genres.
Q: What types of performances does the Cowan Center offer? A: For marketing purposes, we offer different packages of shows. The types of audience size varies. The Performing Arts Series has a variety of acts and is the main series. The Braithwaite Intimate Gathering Series may not fill the house, but offers interesting areas such as a trio or a piano recital with an average of 600-800 patrons attend. Broadway shows are usually a sell out. The Distinguished Lecture Series is in its 27th year with national and international speakers, most recently Vincente Fox, former president of Mexico. The Arts and Education series reaches out to regional schools and provides such shows as Junie B. Jones and Mad Scientists CSI, Switchback, shows that reach kids K-12.
Q: Which performances are attended most? A: Usually the Broadway shows are sellouts with anywhere from 1,800-2,000 patrons attending. The contemporary arts might have around 1,200-1,400, story ballets around 1,500. The jazz shows we have had range from 600 to sell outs: however, with each discipline of the arts attendance does vary.
Q: How important is the audience? A: Well if they didn’t attend we wouldn’t have the Cowan Center. I look at the Cowan Center as a cultural diverse interaction that will enrich lives. Also we have a wonderful student benefit here that allows many first tie experiences with the arts. The student government chooses around 10-12 shows a year for 200 students to attend for free. How do student get tickets to the shows? Starting on the day the single tickets go on sale to the public, students need to bring their student ID to the box office of the Cowan Center, and we get them a ticket then.
Q: At the first performance of 2009, Jesus Christ Superstar, starring Ted Neely, there was a paper survey for patrons. Is that the way you choose what performances are for next year? A: It is a very effective tool for choosing which acts to book. It also allows me an insight on how hard it will be to market the shows. That show was a sellout and over 900 surveys were handed back in. This is exciting to see that the community would voice their opinion on what performances they would like to see. From the survey I compiled a report that was taken to the Cowan Center advisory board for review.
Q: What contributions does the community play for the Cowan Center? A: Over time we have gained the community’s trust and loyalty. We hope to provide a great experience and hop the community will enjoy the performances. On a business aspect, they provide earned income from ticket revenue and gift sponsors and this year we are event starting an endowment program.
Q: Have any shows been canceled? A: Yes, this past year the Martin Short performance was canceled due to the hurricane that blew in. In some cases, we can reschedule, but his year we refunded the tickets and just keep moving on into the future.
Q: What does it take to put on a performance? A: It’s the magic of theater to see a seamless production. However, it takes several months planning and preparing. Also, many may not notice how many people it takes to make it happened.
We have contracts which can be a long process, then there’s artists relations, catering, hotel accommodations, box office, house management/volunteers around 30 people, backstage and technical support anywhere from 40-55 people for Broadway, an average of 10-35 performers, 10-12 people for valet parking. We have had up to eight police, two to three box office personnel and two to six concession stand workers.
It really is a big operation.
By Amy Calhoun Contributing writer
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