Brookstone theatre resurrected
TORONTO, ON-Financially troubled Brookstone Performing Arts-Toronto's only Christian theatrical company-will live to perform another play. Until recently, the fate of Brookstone was uncertain.
"We have just come to the end of a fundraising campaign in which God did amazing things," says Imbi Medri-Kinnon, interim chair of the volunteer board for Brookstone. "We've had a horrific year."
On April 23, Brookstone's board learned the company known for such theatrical productions as "The Big Picture," a two-hour retelling of the Bible, had racked up debt in excess of $130,000, with no significant foreseeable revenue stream.
Medri-Kinnon insists news of the debt came as a surprise. "Most boards, I think it's fair to say, operate fairly hands-off. You go with what you're being told.
"But at the end of the day, you are somewhat responsible; whether it's morally or legally. And especially in a Christian context, we felt that we were morally bound to deal with the realities we found ourselves in."
Explaining that they saw no alternative, Medri-Kinnon says the board's first step in dealing with those realities was to issue immediate layoff notices to all staff.
It was terrible news for everyone concerned, including then-associate artistic director, Tom Carson.
After a 12-year relationship with Brookstone working on short-term projects, Carson says he and his
family had moved to Toronto from Montreal only four days earlier, to work under a new, long-term arrangement. His fiancée had left a job with IBM to move with him.
"Needless to say, it created enormous personal and professional difficulties for me to be told there was no money on the 23rd," he says.
Carson admits he felt angry and betrayed by what he describes as a subsequent lack of communication on the part of Brookstone's board and management.
As he searched for another job, he launched an e-mail campaign to the company's supporters, designed to pressure the board to address several concerns; concerns he says have never been dealt with to his satisfaction.
Brookstone's artistic director and founder, Dennis Hassell, says the board responded with discernment and discretion. "They said, 'We're not going to get into mud-slinging, because it never ends. Let's focus on what we do well, and let's focus on paying off our obligations.'"
Management issues
One thing everyone agrees on, is that it was primarily inexperienced management that got Brookstone into the massive hole of debt in the first place; a simple case of artistic vision overruling sound business practices.
"There were a number of factors," says Medri-Kinnon. "Brookstone is creatively, artistically excellent. But it had some serious management issues."
She is unwilling to point a finger of blame, however. "The issue was more [one] of 'who's doing what,' as opposed to any specific person."
By mid-January, through a combination of donor gifts, forgiveness of debt and volunteerism on the part of some laid off employees, the company had reduced its indebtedness to just under $55,000.
At that point, the board issued a plea for help to supporters via e-mail, which included this explanation: "We're looking for gifts totalling $30 thousand in the next two weeks. The board is really looking at it as a fleece-does the Lord want Brookstone to continue?"
While Medri-Kinnon won't say how much money came in, she does say they "more than made" their fleece. "We had a phenomenal, cross-denominational, cross-country response."
New and improved
She says the company that resurfaces will be a new one. "Things are not going to be the same as they were. We really want it to be as excellent administratively as it is artistically, because that was severely lacking in the past."
Hassell agrees. "There's a difference between resuscitation and resurrection. This was not resuscitation. This was a resurrection. It's a new body. It's a new thing." He has issued an announcement saying, "I look forward to my new role, newly focussed on writing and artistic directing."
Carson is not convinced the changes go far enough. "I'm sad it's going to continue," he says. "It actually gives me a terrible, terrible feeling because I know there are so many people who have been hurt."
Imago is a biblically based organization that supports the development of the arts and artists in Canada. Executive director John Franklin describes what Brookstone has been through as a "messy human situation," but says he is hopeful they have arrived at "a redemptive solution, which gives Brookstone promise for the future."
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