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BREAKING NEWS: Fennelly quits Express
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just eight months after being named artistic director of Actor’s Express, Bill Fennelly has resigned the Atlanta theater to pursue a New York project, and the Express board has chosen Alliance Theatre literary manager Freddie Ashley as Fennelly’s replacement.
Ashley, an up-and-coming Atlanta director and recent winner of a Charles Loridans Foundation “encouragement” grant for individual artists, is expected to join the edgy downtown ensemble July 9. Friday was Fennelly’s last day at the Express.
Fennelly, who is currently shepherding the new musical “Frankenstein” toward a fall off-Broadway opening and potential Broadway run, said he could not reconcile the demands of both jobs.
“These two things in my life were in conflict,” the 33-year-old Connecticut native said Friday, “and it was becoming painful for us to negotiate my time on this outside project, which I had before I interviewed for this job.”
“I think some people might think it’s a selfish decision,” he said of his unusually brief tenure. “I tried to do what was in the best interest of the company.”
His departure was not a surprise. In an April interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, he said that the transition from the world of commercial theater to running a small non-profit organization had been stressful. Fund-raising was particularly intimidating, he said. “I’ve never had to raise anything more than my rent on a monthly basis,” the newcomer said at the time. Before coming to Atlanta, he was associate director of Broadway’s Tony Award-winning “Jersey Boys” and staged the national tour of Disney’s “The Lion King.”
“Bill made a very considered, heartfelt decision about what was in the best interest of Actor’s Express because of his great love and passion for the theater,” board chair Donna Darroch said, “and he had a previous commitment to this show that has fortunately morphed into an off-Broadway run.”
Ashley, 34, is the Express’ fourth director in seven years. Atlanta native Chris Coleman, who co-founded the company in 1988 with Harold Leaver, left for Portland’s Center Stage in 2000.
A finalist for Fennelly’s job in October, Ashley has no experience running a theater. “It’s a thrill and it’s scary,” he said, “but that’s outweighed by how exciting it is.”
“We just feel extremely fortunate that Freddie was still interested in joining us,” Darroch said. “The transition will feel extremely smooth because Freddie is already so much a part of Actor’s Express.”
Ashley, who grew up in Rome, Ga., has been in the Alliance’s literary department for seven years; prior to that, he was a buyer-bookkeeper for the theater’s scene shop. He has a theater degree from Shorter College and MFA in performance from the University of Southern Mississippi.
His professional directing debut was 2002’s “Lend Me A Tenor” at Aurora Theatre. Since then, he has directed all over town. Last season, Ashley staged the Express’ critically acclaimed “I Am My Own Wife” and its box-office hit “The Great American Trailer Park Musical.” His 2004 production of Theatre Gael’s “A Man of No Importance” was named one of the year’s best shows by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. His “Camelot,” currently at the Aurora Theatre, was the inaugural show of the ensemble’s new Lawrenceville venue.
Coincidentally, Ashley had already been tapped to directed the Express’ 20th season opener, Carlos Murillo’s “dark play or stories for boys,” in September. He says he’d like to see Fennelly return to direct during the season.
In an interview Friday, Ashley said he’s aware the Express’ high turnover rate might be an obstacle to fund-raising. But he said his familiarity with Atlanta audiences gives him a headstart and that he has every intention of sticking around.
“I am in this for the long haul. I am invested in this community as an artist and I intend to invest in this theater … for years. It’s time this theater had a sustained period of leadership again.”
“I’m thrilled,” Fennelly added, “ because I think he much more than myself is a man of Atlanta. He’s very rooted in Atlanta, and I think that’s a very good thing for the next chapter of the Express.”
Comments
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By southside girl
June 15, 2007 3:41 PM | Link to this
who?
By freddie fan
June 15, 2007 4:46 PM | Link to this
Freddie Ashley will be an asset to Actor’s Express. He is an amazing director with a unique vision that will fit well with Express. He is also a very charismatic young man…
I can’t wait to see the things he does.
By Englebert
June 15, 2007 5:35 PM | Link to this
Dangit! Now I won’t be able to sleep at night…
By Brad
June 15, 2007 8:54 PM | Link to this
I have no reason to see why this is a stupid move. As the article clearly states, Freddie Ashley has directed successful shows at Actor’s Express and other successful shows around town. Not only has he been successful in Atlanta, but he has experience in the Arts all over the Southeast. He also has been employeed by the recent Tony Award winning Alliance Theatre, again as the article mentions. Actor’s Express is lucky to have someone with Freddie’s experience as their Artistic Director.
By pittgirl
June 16, 2007 8:48 PM | Link to this
I hope Actor’s Express realizes how lucky they are! This man has the chops. Besides being one of Atlanta’s most talented directors, he has the gregarious nature and high level of professionalism needed to take on this role. He truly does understand the Atlanta audience and will not only please them, but challenge them as well. Can’t wait to see the results!
By Philo
June 18, 2007 9:55 AM | Link to this
I think the board at Actors Express ought to look at the real reasons for such a high turnover in its leadership.
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June 24, 2007 10:04 PM | Link to this
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