With a new development director, The Playhouse comes to you

Michael-jon Pease says he wanted to get in on the ground floor of Des Moines’ revitalization. Pease arrived in St. Paul, Minn., after that city’s revamp was completed, and he was disappointed not have been able to play a part in the process.

“Des Moines is on the brink of huge investments, and all of these ideas that have been percolating are about to happen,” Pease said. “I think it’s important that the city has recognized how the arts and economic development are linked.”

Pease experienced the arts-economics connection several years ago in the small town of Lanesboro, Minn. After graduating from Salve Regina University with a double major in French and theater arts, he eventually attended graduate school at St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minn., where he received his master’s of arts administration degree.

Pease later found a part-time job as a volunteer coordinator for Lanesboro’s Cornucopia Arts Center. He found the position demanded far more hours of work than art center could pay him for, so he began raising money for the organization.

“I doubled our budget every year,” he said of his six years with the organization. He raised enough money, in fact, to create a full-time executive director position for himself.

While leading Cornucopia in Lanesboro, a town of approximately 750 people, Pease also served in the Chamber of Commerce. In that role, he saw first-hand the role the arts played in the town’s development. The tiny town had arts aplenty, with Cornucopia, a professional theater company and two other arts organizations. The town also had bike paths and frequent concerts to attract tourists. Tourists attracted by the arts, Pease said, spend more because they are willing to invest in a sumptuous experience, from food to lodgings to entertainment.

“When I came, the town had four lodging establishments in and around town,” he said. “When I left, there were 50. There were reasons to come to town and reasons to stay.”

Due to a long-distance personal relationship and the call of a new career opportunity, Pease left Lanesboro to work at Park Square Theater in St. Paul, another city he says understands the importance of the arts to sustain the economy.

“The case was made and won in St. Paul,” Pease said. “To keep sports and big business going, you have to create the type of cultural climate people want to be around.”

While working at the Park Square Theater, Pease received a call from the Des Moines Playhouse asking if he would like to apply for the development director position.

“The Playhouse was about the same size as the theater I was working for, but offered more programs,” he said. “I don’t ask [donors] for money because I enjoy it. I want the money to put on programs.”

Pease says he took some flack from Minnesotans for deciding to move to Iowa, but he defends his decision.

“It doesn’t feel like there’s less to do here,” he said. “There are still more plays and concerts and events than I could ever attend. Des Moines is easier to get around in, and it’s easier to get to know people and forge personal relationships, both personally and professionally.”

One of the biggest challenges Pease and the Playhouse will face is the reconstruction on Interstate 235. The organization will respond by temporarily moving out of its 42nd Street location. The spring musical, “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” will be housed by The Temple for Performing Arts. The Playhouse will also have summer education programs at satellite locations and touring theatrical productions.

“Having a company come in can have a huge impact on a town, especially ones farther from cities,” Pease said. “It can even inspire a town to start its own arts groups. I really believe touring forges a better connection with the community than the greatest marketing campaign.”