Michigan Theatre Settlement Shows Exactly Why Community Theatre Boards Need Accountability

(Photo: J. Scott Park)

by Chris Peterson

The lawsuit over leadership and governance at the Michigan Theatre of Jackson has been settled, clearing the way for major changes at the historic downtown theatre.

According to Wilcox Newspapers, the settlement includes the accepted resignations of Nancy Whitmore and Kathryn Snyder, the expansion of the board to 15 directors, and a membership vote on the organization’s future within 90 days. New co-chairs Philip J. Curtis and Martha Fuerstenau have also been elected as the theatre attempts to rebuild community and donor confidence.

For those who have followed OnStage Blog’s coverage of this situation, none of this feels minor. Back in March, we covered the lawsuit filed by nearly 60 members seeking the removal of board leaders, alleging illegal and dishonest conduct, abuse of power, and a collapse of trust. Then, in April, after reported resignations began to surface, we said plainly that those resignations were necessary.

Now there is a settlement. And yes, that is good news.

But let’s not treat this like some happy little governance hiccup that magically resolved itself because everyone sat in a circle and remembered how much they love theatre. This happened because members pushed back. Donors pushed back.

The Michigan Theatre deserves stability. It deserves strong leadership. It deserves a board that understands the difference between stewardship and control. Most importantly, it deserves a future that includes the people who actually kept caring when things got ugly.

This settlement should be seen as a reset, but not an eraser. The community should remember what it took to get here. Because if there is one lesson from this entire mess, it is this: when theatre boards forget who they serve, members have every right to remind them.