MANSFIELD — The Renaissance Theatre recently welcomed a familiar face to a new position on its staff.
Shelby native Maddie Penwell has joined the Renaissance as the new director of Education, Community Engagement, and Symphony. We caught up with Penwell to see how she’s settling into her newest role at the Renaissance.
Responses have been lightly edited for clarity:
1. How’s the new job going so far? How long have you been in this new position?
I started on July 17, so a little less than a month.
2. What were you doing before coming to the Ren?
I worked at Ohio Mutual Insurance Group (OMIG) in Bucyrus in their Information Systems department. I started as Help Desk Support then moved into management with my final position being the Manager of Mail and Document Processing. I’m grateful for the time I spent at OMIG because it gave me a solid foundation in business professionalism.
3. So this is definitely a shift in terms of career paths. What prompted you to make such a big change?
While OMIG was a wonderful place to work and I had amazing coworkers, the industry just wasn’t a good fit for me. There’s something to be said about aligning your skills, talents, and passions into a career and that’s the kind of deep satisfaction I was searching for.
4. Now just because you weren’t working at the Ren doesn’t mean you haven’t been involved at the theatre, right? Can you talk about being involved with shows at the Ren?
I have been a part of many on-stage productions at the Renaissance Performing Arts Association including 17 main stage musicals, Mansfield Symphony Orchestra concerts as a soloist and ensemble member, and an actor in the Teddy Bear Concerts.
5. When and how did you start your involvement with shows at the Ren? What was it about the Ren that drew you to the theatre in the beginning?
My first show with the Ren was “A Chorus Line” in 2010. I was approached by a friend who was working with the Ren at the time that suggested I audition. I was studying Musical Theatre at Ashland University at the time and I thought it’d be a great opportunity to exercise my skills outside of college theatre as well as make connections with other local actors.
6. In addition, what was it about this job in particular that made you want to work for the Ren?
As a member of the community, a patron, and a performer, I feel a deep responsibility to devote my career to serve and further the Renaissance Performing Arts’ mission. I desire to serve my local community using my skills and passions in music, theatre, and education to enrich lives.
7. Tell me about your new job title and responsibilities.
I manage all aspects of the Renaissance education and outreach programs, including existing and potential programs and initiatives. I also manage the general administration and direction over the operations of the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra and Mansfield Symphony Chorus.
8. How is working in the “behind the scenes” part of the Ren different from being on stage?
I guess you could say I exercise two different muscles between Maddie the Actor and Maddie the Director of Education, Community Engagement, and Symphony, but essentially any “project” I work on has a defined process, team, and goal. What feels really satisfying in my soul is that each project I work on whether it’s on stage or off, benefits and furthers the same cause.
9. What’s been the most rewarding part of working with the Ren thus far?
Together with the Mansfield Art Center, Mansfield City Schools, The Ren just held our Summer Institute: Reading Portraits as Biographies with Kennedy Center Teaching Artist, Melanie Rick on August 2nd and 3rd . It was really inspiring and rewarding to see the teachers so engaged and eager to learn new skills and approaches to arts integration, as well as excitement and renewed energy for the upcoming school year. (The three entities above make up the Partners in Education Ohio 2010 team with the Kennedy Center)
10. What are your future plans at the Ren in your new position?
Eventually, I’d like to see an education program dedicated specifically for students with sensory needs to benefit from play. We’ve held successful sensory friendly events in the past and I’d like to see a more robust program series.
