Actors’ Summit Theater is closing the curtain on 17 seasons of performance in August after its artistic director, MaryJo Alexander, announced her retirement.
“The theater has been a remarkable asset to Akron, but the board felt that without the artistic and managerial leadership of MaryJo, the theater couldn’t continue,” said Sarah Beth Emberger, the board president, in a news release Tuesday.
“It’s been a wonderful opportunity,” Alexander said at a Monday board meeting. “We’ve had the good fortune of working with some of Northeast Ohio’s most talented actors and artists, made wonderful friends, and been part of an amazing community. I am extremely proud of the work we have done and the arts jobs we have created.”
Alexander managed the theater with her husband, Neil Thackaberry, who founded the theater back in 1998. Since then, it has put on 141 productions and has been located since 2010 on the sixth floor of Greystone Hall in Akron. Thackaberry retired last year.
Alexander could not be reached for comment Tuesday. In the news release, she said that she and her husband looked forward to spending more time with their grandchildren as well as cooking and gardening.
The couple worked with their two daughters, Constance and Sasha Thackaberry, at the theater, as well as their spouses, Keith Stevens and Peter Voinovich.
The theater received financial support from a number of foundations, including the Ohio Arts Council, GAR Foundation and John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. It will be closing debt-free.
Actors’ Summit has produced a number of regional premieres, including Copenhagen, A Girl’s Guide to Coffee and Motherhood Out Loud.
Theresa Cottom can be reached at 330-996-3216 or tcottom@thebeaconjournal.com.