Little Lake’s managing director resigns
In this May 2015 photo, Roxy MtJoy, left, incoming artistic director for Little Lake Theater, laughs while joking around with Bob Rak, the new managing director, and Rob and Sunny Fitchett. The Fitchetts were preparing to step down from running the theater and move to California.
Exterior of Little Lake Theatre in North Strabane Township
The revolving door continues to spin at Little Lake Theatre in McMurray, with managing director Bob Rak handing in his resignation this week.
Rak’s departure comes little over three weeks after Little Lake’s board of directors ousted Roxy MtJoy, Little Lake’s artistic director. Both MtJoy and Rak were brought on board last year to replace Sunny Disney Fitchett and Rob Fitchett, the couple who had been, respectively, Little Lake’s longtime artistic and managing directors.
In an email message, Rak said he resigned Tuesday, and was asked to stay by the board.
“I made my decision independently of Roxy MtJoy’s termination,” he said. “My only comment is that the board’s vision for the growth and future of the theater changed midstream, and it no longer matched how I thought the organization would best grow, based on my past experience and expertise.”
Rak had been both a board member and performer with Little Lake before becoming its managing director. His departure was accompanied by the resignations of Little Lake’s resident designer, property master and technical director, all of whom were seasonal employees. Philip Irvin, the technical director, said that morale had been good during the last season, the first in which Little Lake was not being guided by someone from the family of founder Will Disney.
Irvin said MtJoy “started to make improvements and it started to make life better … it seemed like good things were happening” at Little Lake. After her removal, which the Little Lake board agreed to unanimously, MtJoy said she was done in by an entrenched old guard who didn’t cotton well to change, and Irvin seconds that notion.
“I think they’re afraid of change and afraid of something new,” Irvin said. “They panic when they’re faced with something new.”
Kevin Gallagher, chairman of Little Lake’s board, issued the following statement Wednesday:
“The board of directors of Little Lake Theater Company has received Bob Rak’s resignation from the managing director role he held in the company. The board had given Bob a full vote of confidence; however, he has opted to resign his position. The artistic committee, recently formed by the board, has made great progress in developing the upcoming season and we look forward to the opening of the theater this spring. We will miss Mr. Rak’s contribution to the theater company and will appreciate his continued involvement during the transition.”
Artistic decisions in the upcoming season will be made by a three-member committee consisting of Disney Fitchett and two other board members.