Sherwin takes new role at BPA

Published 3:00 pm Thursday, January 9, 2003

Per Sherwin, who joined Bainbridge Performing Arts last June as operations manager, has been promoted to managing director.

The shift makes Sherwin, who has appeared in BPA productions from the “Pajama Game” of a decade ago to last fall’s “Crazy For You,” responsible for the theater’s artistic and financial business.

Sherwin, who claims team-building expertise and came to BPA with years of experience in Seattle start-up companies, says that he will take a collaborative approach to working with staff and board.

Since Sherwin joined BPA, the board has grown from 11 to 17 members. BPA has also expanded marketing to Seattle and greater Kitsap, and the financially challenged non-profit has cut costs.

Sherwin has also initiated new programming, including a stand-up comedy series that debuts this month, and an adult drama series last fall that brought other Bainbridge theater groups to the Playhouse main stage.

BPA will put on more performance-based fund-raisers, Sherwin says, like the barn dance last fall.

Another fund-raiser slated for next summer is a melodrama festival.

Modeled on a similar event in Bend, Oregon, the six-week festival will be staged outdoors, and is likely to draw a Seattle audience, Sherwin says.