Louisville’s vibrant arts scene thrives on the vision and passion of its leaders, each shaping the city’s creative landscape in unique ways. To celebrate the kick off of Audience Magazine in print, we caught up with seven trailblazing leaders of local arts organizations to explore their inspirations, challenges, and hopes for the future. From fostering community engagement to pushing the boundaries of artistic expression, these visionaries reveal what it takes to keep the arts alive and flourishing in Louisville.
Each interview is available to read or listen to in its entirety below. Enjoy and see you at a show soon!
Kim Baker – CEO – Kentucky Performing Arts
Kentucky Performing Arts and oversees The Kentucky Center, Brown Theatre, and Old Forester’s Paristown Hall, which all host a variety of performances each year under the direction of CEO Kim Baker. KPA also oversees and facilitates several community driven events and programs, including the Governor’s School for the Arts, of which she was in the first graduating class.
CLICK HERE to read or listen to the full interview.
Leslie Broecker – President – Broadway in Louisville (Full Interview)
Leslie Broecker has been with Broadway in Louisville for 37 years and today serves as the president of the company as well as the Louisville Theatrical Association. In addition to Louisville, she also oversees the Broadway Across America markets for Louisville, Cincinnati, Columbus, Indianapolis, and Kansas City, and continues to entertain audiences with the biggest Broadway shows in the world.
CLICK HERE to read or listen to the full interview.
Leslie Smart – CEO – Louisville Ballet (Full Interview)
The Louisville Ballet is Kentucky’s official state ballet and is a cornerstone of the city’s performing arts scene. As CEO, Leslie Smart is driven to inspire and attract audiences with artistic excellence and community engagement through performances, education programs, and collaborative initiatives. The creative process delivers moving art that respects tradition, encourages innovation, and fosters life-long learning.
CLICK HERE to read or listen to the full interview.
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Graham Parker – CEO – Louisville Orchestra (Full Interview)
As the CEO of the Louisville Orchestra, Graham Parker takes on the challenges and accolades that come with running a world-class orchestra company. His collaborations with Music Director, Teddy Abrams, have pushed the boundaries with premieres of new works including a recent concert compilation with Louisville’s own Jack Harlow.
CLICK HERE to read or listen to the full interview.
Robert Barry Fleming – Actors Theatre
Actors Theatre of Louisville has been a longstanding pillar for theater in Louisville since 1964. Located in the heart of downtown, Actors is known for its innovative productions and commitment to new works garnering national attention and awards for their various works and continues to be a vital hub for contemporary American theater.
We caught up with the executive artistic director for the theater, Robert Barry Fleming, to hear more about his outlook on the arts community, his roles and responsibilities, biggest accomplishments and more.
CLICK HERE to read or listen to the full interview.
Matt Wallace – Kentucky Shakespeare
Kentucky Shakespeare is longest-running free, non-ticketed Shakespeare festival in the United States. In addition to a fantastic summer of performances in Central Park, the company also provides education programs for schools, public performances, and community outreach programs and is the most comprehensive in-school arts education provider in the Commonwealth.
We caught up with producing artistic director, Matt Wallace, to hear more about what it takes to maintain excellence in the Shakespeare space, the programs they offer, and the importance and results of how said programs benefit students in the schools they visit. Be sure to visit KYShakespeare.com for an updated schedule of events and more information.
CLICK HERE to read or listen to the full interview.
Erin Silliman – Producing Director – CenterStage (Full Interview)
CenterStage at the Trager Family Jewish Community Center is one of the oldest continuously operating theater groups in the region, known for its high-quality productions of musicals and plays. The theater company moved to JCC’s new, state-of-the-art facility in April 2022 and producing director Erin Silliman driven to enrich Louisville’s cultural landscape by showcasing local talent and fostering a love for the performing arts, while celebrating diverse stories and perspectives.
