Meet SOPAC's New ED, Michael Bollinger

On his first official day on the job, will attend the Monday night Board of Trustees meeting.  As a new South Orange resident, Bollinger is eager to meet the neighbors.

Bollinger previously served as the inaugural Executive Director of Virginia's Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts and President of the Governor's School for the Arts Foundation Board. Before that, he served as long-time Artistic Producing Director of Missouri's Lyceum Theatre and Founding Director of Mainstage Theatre Company. Bollinger has produced and/or directed more than 200 plays and musicals.

He brings enthusiasm for South Orange and SOPAC with him, describing himself as "jazzed" about the Village, its houses and downtown options. Likewise, Bollinger notes, "We should be proud of SOPAC," which he describes as "clean and professional looking." From the audience perspective, he says, "You can't beat." With some 400 seats, he says, "It's like being in a big living room. You can see performers' facial expressions and the acoustics are great."

At the same time, Bollinger sees "room for growth" and believes that he can "make a difference."  He's eager to see attendance grow, lauds the Midtown Direct Rep, and looks to further collaboration with Clearview Cinemas.

Bollinger realizes that, "It's rough out there" in this economic climate. At the September 27 Board of Trustees meeting, Bollinger will make his first quarterly report to the public. At that time, he will review the previous fiscal year and plans for SOPAC's immediate future.