Leadership team at Perkinson Center ready for their first act
The new Perkinson Center has been a dream in the hearts of hundreds, if not thousands, of Chesterfield citizens for over two decades. When something so grand comes to fruition after such time, the mind tends to embellish details that reality can end up disappointing. That is certainly not the case for this county gem.
Final touches are being completed, the paint has dried, theater seats are installed, and the Perkinson Center staff is growing.
In October, the Chesterfield Cultural Arts Foundation (CCAF) – managing board for the Perkinson Center – recruited Marly Fausz Fuller, MBA to fill the role of Executive Director.
“I speak for the entire Board when I say we are thrilled to have Marly on board and on site,” said Chairman Hugh Cline. “Marly has done so much, so quickly, it’s truly amazing. The accomplishments have been hard to keep up with such as a new logo, website, URL, licensing, permitting, programming… the list goes on and on. Being a Chester native, Marly was already ahead of the curve and her vision fit perfectly with the Board’s. We couldn’t be more excited.”
Fuller is a Thomas Dale and Virginia Commonwealth University Masters graduate whose background is in nonprofit administration, communications, and leadership development. Her passion for the arts and desire to make Chester a Village for the Arts is driving her decisions for programming, gallery shows, and educational offerings at the Perkinson Center. Her involvement with the CCAF spans across 20 years, as she worked closely with the late Betty Matthews in the early days of development on strategy and fundraising efforts.
“My vision is that the Perkinson Center transforms and enriches our community, that we are the leader of intimate experiences with the arts and that we inspire anyone and everyone to explore curiosity, creativity, and culture,” Fuller said. “We will do so with welcoming inclusivity and an encouraging accessibility regardless of gender orientation, race, age, or experience with the arts. I am building an enthusiastic team to meet these demands so that we can grow and heal through the arts together.”
In addition to Fuller, the staff includes Chief Financial Officer Allan Carmody, Technical Director/Production Manager Jon Shelley, and Office Manager Heather Miles.
Shelley brings more than 20 years of theater experience. He has designed and run lighting events up and down the East Coast in places such as Virginia Rep, Sycamore Rouge, and the Modlin Center. Previously, he was the theater manager and technical teacher at Collegiate High School.
Miles, another Thomas Dale graduate, also serves as the Artistic Director and co-founder of the Broken Leg Theater. Her passion for serving the community and experience in administrative management is benefiting the Perkinson Center in multiple ways.
To help raise funds for the million-dollar operating budget, the CCAF has also contracted Pete Stith, former deputy Chesterfield County administrator for community development.
The CCAF board is also seeing changes. Rotating off the board, pivotal in building the center: Sam West, George Emerson, C.F. “Sonny” Currin, and P.C. Amin. New board appointments include: Carrie Emerson, Mike Mabe, Sarah Snead, Jamie Nowakowski, Pat Harvey, and Ken Oxendine.
The new board is focused on fundraising and operations, navigating COVID mandates, and driving the Perkinson Center Strategy.
Fuller does not seem to worry about the effects of coronavirus on opening plans. The center will get creative with its offerings to provide a hybrid of virtual and in-person, socially-distanced, programming.
“I believe it’s not only our responsibility to show up for our community when they need us most during these times of COVID, but our promise to do so,” Fuller said.
The Perkinson Center is developing a rich schedule of educational offerings from theatrics to visual arts and crafts by partnering with area artists and organizations. Programming will be announced on their new website PerkinsonCenter.org, which will go live Friday Nov. 20.
“Every artist and performance group we have toured and interviewed for partnerships have repeatedly used the same phrase ‘We are looking for a home,’” said Fuller. “That struck a chord with me because the original John Rolfe Players were also looking for a home, so it only makes sense for our opening show and events to be called ‘Home.’”
The Perkinson Center staff is navigating new guidelines put in place by Gov. Northam on Nov. 15 to limit gatherings to 25 people. This has impacted some events that were in planning but allows them to expand their Virtual Grand Opening mid-December. That ticketed event will serve as a fundraiser for the CCAF and allow the Perkinson Center to sample programming in the Jimmy Dean Theater as well as showcase spaces at the center such as the Baxter and Elaine Perkinson Gallery, the education center, classroom, and backstage elements like the green room and dressing rooms.
Tickets will be available for this event beginning December 1. Sign up for alerts and updates on the website PerkinsonCenter.org as early as Nov. 20.
