THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 19, 1995 TAG: 9503190048
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TERESA ANNAS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
Doug Perry, Virginia Stage Company's managing director, said Friday that he has resigned after nearly three years in the position.
``I don't know what I'm going to be doing yet. It's just time for me to make a change, for personal reasons,'' said Perry, charged with the financial end of the nonprofit, professional theater.
Perry's last day is March 31. A committee of board members has been formed to conduct a nationawide search for his replacement.
In the early 1990s, the stage company had serious financial woes.
Perry stressed he is leaving the stage company in an improved state, fiscally and artistically.
``The challenges that face Virginia Stage Company are the same challenges that face every nonprofit organization in this community: The needs of so many nonprofit groups rely so heavily on contributed income, and none of us can earn all the money that we need.''
In Hampton Roads, headquarters for few major corporations but many arts groups, ``the challenges are even greater,'' he said.
The stage company derives 60 percent of its $1.6 million budget from ticket sales, the rest comes from contributions. An accumulated deficit that was $252,000 in 1993 is now at $175,000, Perry said.
Perry said he is pleased that ``the quality of our shows has vastly improved in the last couple of years.
``One of the things I'm proudest of is helping the stage company produce `Peter Pan,' a musical that broke box office records in December.
It ``was our first big musical in years, and one of the first real attempts the company has made to reach out'' to the wider community.
Before arriving in Norfolk in 1992, Perry was general manager of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival for eight years. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Doug Perry says he is leaving the stage company in an improved
financial and artistic state. His last day is March 31.
by CNB