Longtime theatre director will play a new role in the theatre department
After 23 years as director of the theatre program at Interlochen, David Montee is ready to refocus on his craft. The longtime director of the theatre program will shed his administrative responsibilities at the end of the 2010-11 Academy year, and following a one-year sabbatical Montee will return to the Arts Academy as a member of the theatre faculty.
“David has accomplished so much to raise the profile of the theatre program at Interlochen,” said Jeffrey Kimpton, president of Interlochen Center for the Arts. “David was asked to create a national destination in theatre education, and he did just that: under his direction, the theatre program has come to be recognized as the top training ground for young actors. And the reputation is well-deserved, with Interlochen alumni now appearing on screens and stages around the world.”
As director of the theatre program, Montee has managed personnel, budgets, schedules, theatre facilities, and worked closely with the presentations staff in all technical areas as well as working closely with the marketing and admission offices to recruit new students. During his tenure as director of the program, theatre student enrollment has more than doubled. “Leading an arts area at Interlochen is an enormous administrative responsibility,” explained Ted Farraday, vice president of education programs. “And these responsibilities are often in addition to teaching obligations.”
“It will be a bittersweet transition,” said Kimpton. “As an administrator, David has led the program through a period of growth and incredible artistic achievement. I understand how appealing it is for David to be able to focus on what he loves most – teaching and directing. He is an excellent teacher, mentor and motivator and our future theatre students will be fortunate to have even more of his time and attention.”
During the 2011-12 Academy year, Montee will take a sabbatical year before returning to teach in the 2012-13 Academy year. “We have accomplished many things in the theatre department over the last 23 years,” said Montee, “but I am ready to start a new chapter at Interlochen and focus more of my time on teaching. In the meantime, I am still planning out my sabbatical year. I am certain it will contain a lot of reading, acting, travelling and reconnecting with alumni. And I might even catch a play or two.”
At the end of the current year, Montee will hand over the leadership of the theatre program to one of his first students at the Academy and a current member of the faculty, Bill Church. “I was a theatre student during David’s first year at Interlochen,” noted Church. “My fellow students and I quickly discovered that David was an amazing educator. And years later, when I joined the theatre faculty, I discovered his skills as a manager and leader.”
Despite the change in leadership, Church does not anticipate major changes for the theatre program. “I think David has put us on a very good path,” said Church. “I am thrilled that he will still be at Interlochen and dedicating even more of his time and effort to teaching a new generation.” Farraday added, “we are lucky to be in a position to make this transition so smoothly and with appropriate attention to both the past and the future of the theatre program. We are fortunate to have two such talented individuals with teaching and leadership experience continuing our tradition of excellence.”
