Kevin Irving leaving OBT

[sandik]

The company has announced that Irving is leaving the director position, and that former company member Peter Franc will be serving as an interim.   The press release doesn't say too much about the reasons for the change, but Irving said in an email to press and patrons that he was told to resign.  The company has managed to keep its head above water this last year, which is an accomplishment not everyone can claim, but I don't know what the financial costs have been.  This messy transition reminds me of the last time they changed directorship, putting former director Christopher Stowell in an untenable position until he resigned -- this kind of tension doesn't help anything.  Adding to the complications -- next season includes three works by Irving's partner Nicolo Fonte  (one of which is the program-length "Beautiful Decay").  Fonte has said that he remains in his resident choreographer position.

For those of us on the west coast, this just underlines the more methodical nature of the search for a new AD at San Francisco Ballet.

[Syzygy]

On 6/27/2021 at 4:04 PM, sandik said:

Adding to the complications -- next season includes three works by Irving's partner Nicolo Fonte  (one of which is the program-length "Beautiful Decay").  Fonte has said that he remains in his resident choreographer position.

Ouf, not anymore, according to this piece in the Williamette Week. It includes a few choice words by Fonte for the board...

[sandik]

Another Dracula -- I think they used to do one by James Canfield, and now they're doing Ben Stevenson's. 

[pherank]

Does sound like the board is 'cleaning house'. But without knowing what their preferences are, it's hard to know what the board envisions should happen.