Southwest Michigan’s GhostLight Theatre (“GhostLight”), a premier performing arts organization in the burgeoning Benton Harbor Arts District, announced today the appointment of Ed Tracy as interim Executive Director. Ed takes over from Co-Founder and Executive Director, Marty Hesse, who is relocating out of the area after five successful years in the position.
Tracy brings a strong background in executive management of arts and cultural organizations, most recently as President of Roxbury Road Creative, LLC and previously, President/CEO and long-time program host of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library in Chicago. In addition to wide-ranging experience in fundraising and executive leadership, strong interpersonal and personnel management skills, Tracy has been writing about and reviewing theatre in Chicago for many years. He and his wife, Denise McGowan Tracy, an event producer, playwright and performer, moved to Benton Harbor last year.
GhostLight’s Board of Directors President, Brett Lutz, said, “GhostLight is thankful for all that Marty has done as co-founder and executive director to launch our vision of bringing together a community in active participation with the arts. This theater continues to draw some of the best talent, artistic partnerships and arts-based educational opportunities from around the country into southwest Michigan, and we are excited for Ed to accelerate GhostLight’s establishment as a premier location for the performing arts to thrive in Benton Harbor.”
Co-Founder and Artistic Director, Paul Mow, welcomed Ed in his new role as executive director, saying, “In hiring Ed Tracy as interim executive director, our board of directors has found a true professional with both the experience and understanding of the demands and needs of a non-profit arts organization.”
Mow continued, “It has been an honor to build the foundation of GhostLight alongside Marty. She leaves behind a significant contribution to the Benton Harbor Arts District, and all of us in the SW Michigan arts community who have begun the passionate work on this project we call a ‘storefront’ theatre. I look forward to working with both Marty and Ed during this transition as well as throughout the fantastic 2022 theatrical production and artistic camp season that we have in store for the community.”
GhostLight’s 2022 season opens with the musical Little Women (May 19-29) based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott, followed by Joshua Harmon’s play Significant Other (June 9-19), the Midwest premiere of Samuel D. Hunter’s Lewiston/Clarkston (July 14-24) and the Jeanine Tesori/Brian Crowley musical Violet (August 18-28).
GhostLight is also hosting educational camps throughout the summer including: CircEsteem Kids (June 20-24) a day camp designed to build self-esteem & mutual respect through the practice & performance of circus arts; Discovering Your Voice By Learning to Write Like Shakespeare (July 25-29) with Ken Smith, PhD; and, BEST Camp-Building Excellence through Summer Theater (June 27-July 1), a collaboration with The Citadel Dance & Music Center.
For more information, visit: www.ghostlightbh.com.
