Michael Duncan, director of the Oconomowoc Arts Center announced his plans for stepping down from his position on Nov. 4 to pursue other opportunities. 
"The past ten years have been an amazing experience and the community has been very supportive. My colleagues, staff and volunteers have been the best group of people to work with, but it's time for a new energy and vision to guide the OAC into the future," he explained.
Duncan was hired in 2008 as the first director for a new state-of-the-art, 30,000-square-foot arts venue designed to showcase student talent and also attract top-notch professional arts programming to fill the 755-seat Neudecker Main Stage Theater.
Two years earlier, voters in the Oconomowoc Area School District approved the project as part of a $49.6 million referendum that also paved the way for two new intermediate schools and a gymnasium for the high school. The OAC would replace the 80-year-old, antiquated middle school auditorium that was being used for school district performing arts programs.
"When the OAC was in the planning stages I was contacted by then OHS theater director, Vic Passante. The school board wanted to have a full-time person to manage the space and Vic encouraged me to apply. I had been working at Sunset Playhouse for 10 years, so I knew what it took to run a theater," said Duncan. "The OAC was in my backyard, so I decided to go for it."
Long-time Oconomowoc resident, Betty Reul served on the original arts center board and on various committees in support of the OAC for the past 10 years.
"When the OAC was under construction, Superintendent Pat Neudecker and the school board wisely sought a managing director. We had 52 applicants from all over the country. We were challenged to find one person who was qualified for all the requirements of the position. And then came Michael Duncan!" explained Reul. "We can't thank him enough for helping our arts center to become the remarkable asset it is for the community and the school. Michael will be missed, remembered and respected."
A passion for the stage
Duncan has been a professional in the arts for more than 45 years including arts management, artistic director, production manager, stage director, theater designer and professional actor. He is a member of the Actor's Equity Association and the American Guild of Musical Artists.
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He has also been an active member of the Wisconsin Presenters Network and served as the Southeast Region chair from 2014-17. He has been recently part of a WPN project of theater management professionals that assist new performing arts centers attached to school districts.
In the Milwaukee area, he has worked in arts administration and production management with Skylight Opera, The Florentine Opera, Great American Children's Theater, The Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival, and artistic director of Sunset Playhouse from 1994-2003.
As a professional director and actor his career includes work with many nationally recognized companies including the Milwaukee Rep, Madison Rep, In Tandem Theater, First Stage Children's Theater, Chamber Theater of Milwaukee and several seasons with the Oregon, Utah, Wisconsin, Milwaukee and Riverside Shakespeare Festivals.
He has performed professionally in over 100 roles including classical, musical and contemporary. He has also directed more than 65 productions including classical, contemporary, musical theater and opera.
Duncan has designed scenery and lighting for over 50 productions. While at the OAC, he designed scenery for the OHS drama productions of "Guys and Dolls," "Into the Woods," "Singing in the Rain," "Grease," "Billy Elliot," "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "As You Like It."
"Michael Duncan and the Oconomowoc Arts Center are synonymous. He has been there since the very beginning, and you just can't think of one without thinking of the other. The dedication and commitment he has shown over the last 10 years has helped to make the OAC what it is today—a central fixture in the Oconomowoc Arts community, and he did it with an incredible level of grace," said Dr. Roger Rindo, superintendent of the Oconomowoc Area School District.
Curtain call
The OAC celebrated its 10th anniversary presenting season last year. "Our 10th anniversary season was our most successful. We needed to do it up big and our risks paid off. In the first few years, we were just trying to get the arts center going and we did everything we could to get it all to work. Ten years later and we are in a really great place," said Duncan.
Throughout the past decade, Duncan's responsibilities at the OAC required his presence seven days a week.
"Running a successful performing arts center is a complex task. Finding the right blend of shows that attract a wide variety of patrons, while at the same time understanding that those shows need to fill seats, is a continual challenge. Michael did it with a sense of ease, and through his leadership the OAC has developed a strong patronage in a relatively short period of time," added Rindo.
Despite the long hours, his love for the theater and personal mission to make the arts accessible to everyone, have fueled his endeavors to create an environment where students and the community can experience the highest quality arts education and opportunities right in their own backyard.
"The journey to this point has been an amazing ride. I have been given the opportunity to help build something special for my own community. Working directly with our students and with such talented professional artists from all over the country has definitely been one of the highlights of my career," added Duncan. "But there are many things I would still like to do. The urge to get back to my roots in the professional theater has been a big part of it. I also want to spend more time with my family and friends."
For more information about the Oconomowoc Arts Center, call the OAC Box Office at 262-560-3172 or visit www.theoac.net.
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