Art House Productions (Executive Artistic Director Meredith Burns) in collaboration with Half-Light Productions, is thrilled to announce the upcoming presentation of Rajiv Joseph’s compelling play, “Gruesome Playground Injuries,” directed by Catriona Rubenis-Stevens. This captivating dramedy will be staged at Art House Productions in Jersey City, NJ, offering audiences a unique theatrical experience.

The post In the Fall Art House Productions Presents “Gruesome Playground Injuries” by Rajiv Joseph first appeared on River View Observer.

   A New Home (TBA) to Set the Stage for Popular Arts Center

 By Sally Deering

Stepping inside Art House Productions†performance space behind One PATH Plaza in Jersey City, Meredith Burns tiptoes through rows of stage lights, piles of discarded scenery and the ghosts of plays, musicals, art exhibits and dress-up fundraisers that took place within its walls all these years. But the past is the past and Art House Productions is about to take up residence in a new space with Burns as its new executive director. Thereâ€s still lots to be done and some big shoes to fill.

Those shoes belong to Christine Goodman, who served as Executive Director of Art House since the non-profit first opened its doors 15 years ago on McWilliams place near Hamilton Park, then moved to bigger digs on Magnolia Street near Journal Square. As Art Houseâ€s executive director, Goodman – who is leaving to spend more time with family – directed most of Art Houseâ€s plays, oversaw the INKubator writers†workshop and STAGES! program for kids ‘bitten by the acting bug.â€

Changing of the guard:

Christine Goodman, Meredith Burns,

and a young fan.

 â€œMeredith is exactly the kind of visionary we need to bring us into this next phase of growth,” Goodman says. “Our Board of Trustees did a thoughtful, in-depth search to find the best fit for our organization, and I believe they found the right person. I have always believed in succession planning as a hallmark of an organization’s long-term success. It is truly an exciting new day at Art House.”

As the new Executive Director, Burns brings to the table her experience as both an actress and arts administrator. She holds a BFA in Acting from SUNY Purchase, and performs regularly in New York. Sheâ€s done several seasons of Shakespeare in Washington D.C. and belongs to a sketch comedy troupe in Manhattan.

Although plans are underway for Art House to move into its new space, Burns says the landlords of the new space are busy ironing out the details before making the formal announcement, so for now, Art Houseâ€s new residence is under wraps. Besides, thereâ€s still so much to do before the show goes on, so to speak.

During her busy first week on the job, Burns took a break to share her plans for Art House Productions future as a venue for theater, visual arts, music, spoken word, comedy, arts classes and, of course, those costumed-fundraisers that support the non-profitâ€s arts programming.

RVO:  Meredith, you just came on board last week; where were you before Art House?

MB:  Since 2013, I ran an after-school arts program at the New Voices Middle School in New York.

RVO:  Where did you grow up?

MB:  I was born and raised in Essex Fells, New Jersey a little town next to Montclair. My dad and mom grew up in The Heights in Jersey City. My grandmother went to Dickinson High School. I was coming here all the time as a kid. When my parents divorced, my dad moved back. He was a Jersey City firefighter.

RVO:  Youâ€re an actress as well as an arts administrator?

MB: Iâ€m on a sketch comedy team called The Executives out of the Magnet Theater on 29^th & 8^th Avenue in New York. I guess you would say Iâ€m a sketch comedienne. Itâ€s a great little team. We were on Monday nights and now weâ€re the weekend team. I only started doing comedy the past 2-3 years. Before this, I worked at Pregones Theater in The Bronx and the PR Traveling Theater Company in Manhattan. I was managing director and founding member of the Glass Bandits Theater Company in Brooklyn where we did living room readings and, out of that, produced new work.  I also worked at the Shakespeare Theater of D.C. It was a great experience, I learned a lot.

RVO:  As Art House Productions†new executive director, what are your long-term goals?

MB: My goal for Art House is to keep the lights on seven days a week. I love the theater. I love thereâ€s an art gallery. Iâ€d like to do more mixed-media, maybe a web-series, pilots, more comedy, more dance, spoken-word and poetry. The written-word is super important.

RVO:  Will you continue programs that Christine Goodman put in place?

Yes. We have the Inkubator series, a monthly writers†workshop where playwrights and screenwriters get together and read their work. I want to produce work that comes out of there. JC Fridays will continue and so will the annual Snow Ball fundraiser. In the spring weâ€re having a wine-tasting at Harborside, and an Octo-beer-fest. Our Stages! program for kids will also continue. Itâ€s on hold until we move into the new space.

 RVO: Can you share when you think Art House will be in its new home?

MB: Weâ€re hoping by April. The people running the space want to make the announcement.

RVO:  Has Christine been showing you the ropes for the transition of leadership?

MB: Christine is one of the most gracious people Iâ€ve ever met. She is excited for this organization. She understands it needs fresh eyes, new energies. Everything she built is sound. The programs she created are sound. Sheâ€s given me a blank canvas. This is the dream Iâ€ve always had.

RVO:  You dreamed of being an arts administrator?

MB: This is such a dream! When I was acting, I loved performing, but I needed to produce something. I like producing.

 RVO:  How will you let your audience know when the curtain goes up at the new space?

MB:  Weâ€ll keep everyone updated on the website (arthouseproductions.org). Weâ€ll probably have a “Welcome to the Neighborhood!” performance, show people what we can do.

RVO:  Thereâ€s seems to be a threat to end funding for the National Endowment looming like a storm cloud over the arts. As an artist and arts administrator, can you share why you think the arts are important?

MB:  Now more than ever, the arts connect us to humanity, and help us explore what it means to be a human being.

The post LEADING LADY Meredith Burns takes on the role of Art House Productions’ Executive Director first appeared on River View Observer.

JERSEY CITY, NJ, January 27, 2017 – Meredith Burns has been named Executive Director of Art House Productions effective February 13. A Jersey City resident and volunteer for Art House INKubator, Burns joins the organization from Brooklynâ€s New Voices Middle School, where she has led an arts-based, after-school program for 200+ children since 2013. She succeeds Christine Goodman, who is stepping down 15 years after founding the highly regarded nonprofit arts organization to spend more time with her family.

An actress whose performing career spans Off-Broadway, regional theater, stand-up and sketch comedy, as well as independent film, Burns also has deep experience leading nonprofit arts organizations with performance, education and community service missions. Before joining New Voices, Burns founded and served as managing director of Glass Bandits Theater Company in Brooklyn for five years. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in acting from the State University of New York in Purchase.

“Meredith brings a rich combination of skills and professional experience that will help us establish deeper and broader roots in Jersey City and serve the highly diverse needs of everyone who make Jersey City special,” said David Gibson, president of Art Houseâ€s Board of Trustees. “Having founded, secured funding for, and led community-based performing and arts-education organizations through varying levels of organizational maturity, Meredith is highly qualified to lead Art House and build on the solid foundation that Christine created.”

“Art House has held a special place in my heart since I moved to Jersey City,” Burns said. “Although much of my professional life has been in Brooklyn, I have enjoyed my volunteer work with INKubator immensely. When I considered the Boardâ€s offer to lead Art House, I realized it was an opportunity to bring together all aspects of my artistic, personal and professional lives, and Iâ€m excited to nurture and grow what Christine has so lovingly built.”

“I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved, and believe Meredith is the best person to shepherd Art House through its next phase of development,” Goodman said. “Art House began as an informal gathering of poets and Jersey City residents who used art and dialogue to help heal a devastated community. Through the dedication and support of hundreds of artists and many more volunteers, it has grown into a vibrant community focused on cultivating artists in Jersey City, showcasing visual and performing arts and creating greater understanding of one another.”

Goodman worked closely with Gibson, Art Houseâ€s Board and its Search Committee to identify a successor to lead the organization. Under her leadership, Art House matured, becoming a leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with highly successful and expanding programs and budgets, funded by private corporate and public donations, sponsorships, and grants. Goodman founded Art House shortly after September 11, 2001, when as a young actress, artist, writer and community advocate she realized there were no dedicated performance venues for artists in Jersey City to meet one another and share work. 

About Art House Productions

Through accessible, multi-disciplinary initiatives, Art House Productions produces high-quality visual and performing arts programs, provides arts-education programs for life-long learning, and celebrates the power of the arts to illuminate our common humanity. Since its inception in 2001, Art House has influenced the advancement of the arts community and acted as a pioneering force for the arts in Jersey City. In 2007, Art House was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and received a Key to the City for outstanding contributions to Jersey City.

Art House Productions is located at 136 Magnolia Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306.

CRYSTAL DAVIS
Assistant to the Executive Director, Art House Productions
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Art House Productions

136 Magnolia Ave

Jersey City, NJ  07306
t. (201) 915-9911
w. www.arthouseproductions.org

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The post Art House Productions Names Meredith Burns Executive Director first appeared on River View Observer.