Brookfield/Elm Grove Monthly

FEBRUARY 2013 Page 2A • Freeman Brookfield & Elm Grove A lifelong love of theater Farrell brings dynamic background as new Sunset Playhouse executive director By Katherine Michalets Special to The Freeman ELM GROVE – When Jim Farrell talks about his new role as Sunset Playhouse executive director, the energy in the room is palpable. It's the energy of a man who has been reunited with a lost love – in this case with the artistic process of a theater. Farrell's first day on the job at the Sunset Playhouse was Wednesday and since then he has been immersed in familiarizing himself with the theater and its legion of dedicated volunteers. When applying for the position, Farrell presented a dynamic resume that contained time spent successfully acting, directing, writing, fundraising and more. He started to act in high school in Florida and worked in theater in New York City where he performed in about 30 offBroadway productions, including "Perfect Crime" for three years (more than 1,200 performances) as Inspector Asher. Recently, he moved to Wisconsin and worked as director of corporate & foundations relations at Milwaukee Repertory Theater from July 2008 to January 2011 and then as development director at Skylight Music Theatre from January 2011 until he started at Sunset Playhouse. He has won awards and honors as a playwright and an actor. Although he was successful with fundraising for the different theaters, Farrell said he missed being a part of the creative process. It became apparent how much he missed it when he directed "Six Degrees of Separation" at Sunset Playhouse last season. "I found myself working in theater where I had no connection to the art anymore," he said. It was also during this time that he learned how committed the Sunset Playhouse volunteers are who perform in the plays and design the sets and costumes and manage other aspects of the production, giving the examples of two of the "Six Degrees" actors, Donna Daniels. who works full time at Northwestern Mutual and had volunteered for the theater in high school, and U.S. Attorney Jim Santelle. 229758004 Getting to know Sunset Playhouse Executive Director Jim Farrell My greatest achievement is: This is kind of personal, and I'm not sure I would want it to be in the paper, but my greatest achievement is being there for my wife and caring for her when she was dying of cancer. My favorite book is: Hard to say, I love so many of them. I love Charles Dickens; I love Russell Banks; I love J.D. Salinger. But if I had to pick one single work it would be "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Garbriel Garcia Marquez. My favorite TV show is: I have two, and they couldn't be more different: "Sons of Anarchy" and "Downton Abbey." Also was a huge fan of "The West Wing." Charles Auer/Freeman Staff Jim Farrell, executive director of the Sunset Playhouse, stands in the lobby recently. When former Executive Director Jonathon West left the theater in October, Farrell said he realized the position would allow him to be part of the theater's administration and the artistic process. He said he feels a sense of responsibility to the community of volunteers and to the larger community outside of the theater's walls. "We're defined by our mission to be part of the community," Farrell said. Although he said it is too early for him to lay out plans or a vision for the Sunset Playhouse, he said he wants to reach out to the Elm Grove community and get to know its residents more. Also, Farrell wants to draw people to the theater who may once have been involved, but gotten away from it over the years. He said Sunset Playhouse can help people redevelop that relationship. "I want to make sure it stays as vibrant in the community as it has been," he said. Marla Eichmann, president of the Sunset Playhouse Board of Directors, said Farrell brings with him many attributes that will help the theater. The board members especially liked that he had a fundraising background, which had been a weakness for the theater, but is always a vital part of a nonprofit's success, she said. Farrell's previous experience of directing at Sunset Playhouse was also a plus. "What was attractive about Jim was he had already directed a play at Sunset Playhouse so there was awareness of him in the community," Eichmann said. "And the feedback (from those) that worked with him, around him, that were part of the process, was so positive about him as an individual." In addition to a bachelor's degree in theatre arts, Farrell has a Master of Fine Arts in performing arts management from the North Carolina School of the Arts, which Eichmann said was another plus. Farrell is optimistic about the future of the Sunset Playhouse, and theaters in general. He said that although people remain plugged into electronic devices, he feels that people are "ready for a more personal experience." In live theater, a dialogue is created between the actors and the audience, something that TV and movies lack. "More people are coming around again to a more organic experience," he said. "Which is setting up a craving for something that we can offer." 230162006 My favorite play is: That's a really tough one.The best Shakespeare production I ever saw was "Coriolanus" starring Christopher Walken at the New York Shakespeare Festival. I saw a production of "Shining City" on Broadway a few years ago with Martha Plimpton, Brian O'Byrne and Oliver Platt that was amazing. Favorite Milwaukee production is probably "Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris" at Skylight directed by Ray Jivoff. Favorite Sunset production I've seen is "Six Degrees of Separation" (I know, that shouldn't count because I directed it). I think Youngblood Theatre is doing some crazy interesting work. But favorite of all time? It would be different every week that you asked me. But if I had to pick just one play, it might be "True West" by Sam Shepard. My favorite childhood memory is: I had a friend named Joel that was handicapped, and some kids in the neighborhood were picking on him because he was different, and they had bloodied him up pretty good. Me and my friend Don went and found the kids who hurt Joel and delivered revenge. I wrote a play about it called "Monster Island" that has been produced here and there. The person I most admire is: Two. My late wife, Lynne, and my current love Niffer. Three words that describe me are: Pavement. Horticulture. Semblance. Only kidding, I don't know, I guess – passionate, funny and seeker. The worst job I had as a teenager: Filling in sand traps with a shovel in the summer in south Florida. Very hot. The FREEMAN Established in 1859 How to reach us 801 N. Barstow St., P.O. Box 7, Waukesha, WI 53187 262-542-2500 Hours: M-F 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. If you have a news tip from the Brookfield/Elm Grove area, contact Mary Reardon at 513-2657 or news@conleynet.com To advertise in "Brookfield & Elm Grove This Month" call the advertising department at (262) 513-2624. To subscribe to the daily Freeman call 542-2500 Subscription Rates • By in-county mail 13 weeks........$33.80 26 weeks........$64.22 52 weeks......$121.68 52 weeks..........$175 • Out-of-county mail 13 weeks.............$45 26 weeks............$90 Electronic edition ......$6.95 a month with credit card Easy buy .....$8.95 a month with credit card Circulation Dept. To reach the Circulation Department call 542-2501 or go to www.gmtoday.com/wfhelp. 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