Today we’d like to introduce you to Jo Ann Ventor.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Running a non-profit is not new to me! I started a small theatre company in a nearby lake community back in 2008. We started with a group of 5 children and ended with over 40! I knew then I had found my passion. Soon after, I formed a local theatre company called Buzz Theatre Productions. I then took an opportunity to partner in the former Rhino Theatre Group. After 6 years of a flourishing and successful partnership (and after surviving the storm of Covid), I decided I wanted to get back to my roots in non-profit theatre with a forefront in children’s theatre, as watching a child grow and develop a love of theatre gives me such joy and purpose. On top of my dedication to theatre education, my focus for StageWorks is to highlight unique and thought-provoking content, and specifically musicals and plays not-often-produced for an adult cast. This vision brings meaningful and high-quality yet affordable productions to the community theatre scene in New Jersey. I am hopeful that StageWorks has an compelling legacy, and that we do our part to enrich the lives of those in our community with our art. We are about to celebrate our 5th season and were also named 2025 Community Theatre of the Year by the New Jersey Association of Community Theatres, so we must be doing something impactful.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Is anything ever a smooth road to success?! Theatre in general is littered with challenges like casting, choosing quality shows, hiring production teams and primarily financing. I believe, like many, the challenge of staying in business and staying relevant in business is the largest obstacle.
During Covid, being in a business of assembly was my biggest challenge. How to keep the arts alive in a dark time to raise people up became my obsession. I believed that we needed theatre more than ever to imagine and escape our lives which at that time were so serious and with so much unknown.
While I had so much help, I was the facilitator of outdoor theatre using extreme safety measures before it became commonplace. We installed an outdoor stage (a loan from our township) in a large parking lot; set up a health management system for checking in/temperatures/face covering, etc. and sat people in their own provided chairs in chalked squares set up 6′ apart in all directions. We opened our outdoor theatre on July 1, 2020 and operated until October 31, 2020. At that time we had over 50 performances of shows. Some cabaret style, play readings, full junior and adult shows, all whilst we stood on stage 6′ apart, with plastic face shields for youth, teens and adults. Loading lighting equipment and sound equipment in and out every day, made everyone on our teams strong and fit. I had so many weather apps on my phone to determine if the show will go on or not.
Most importantly, we gave our cast members, parents, audiences and teams something to look forward to. Among the sound of night crickets and occasional local fireworks, we all united and made an unexpected and unpredictable time so memorable for so many people. I still have the 6′ stick I used in the parking lot to separate groups and I still look at it now standing by our backdoor as a symbol that I can do anything if I put my mind to it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I can’t love my job more! I am the executive director and executive producer at StageWorks Theatre Group, Inc. This job is a blend of an artistic director and managing director, wherein I’m responsible for both producing the content and direction artistically plus figuring out how to budget and pay for it all! This is usually separated out in the non-profit sector, but as a small company this is one job currently. I report to our board of directors and we have 60 people that work at StageWorks who are directors, choreographers, music directors, set/lighting/sound designers, builders, production assistants, instructors and more!
We have an Arts Outreach Program that I founded where we provide services to schools that don’t have a theatre program. We cast, audition, rehearse and perform full shows at local elementary, middle and high schools and this is a wonderful, rewarding way to share the power of theatre arts.
I am most proud of all of the opportunities I can extend to local professionals who seek to be involved in theatre arts and education and get paid for it. StageWorks is a community theatre run professionally, and I think our collaboration, transparency and organization set us apart from others. I believe I lead with kindness and this trickles down and is contagious (most of the time)!
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Recently we have discovered a new area of concentration – theatre for seniors 55 and over! StageWorks serves many age ranges: kids 5-9, juniors 9-13, teens 14-17, adults 18+, but having a new category of seniors has us really serving ages 5-75! Our senior programs include afternoon senior serenades, cabarets and full shows for seniors regardless of their experience or ability. Many are getting back to what they once loved, after raising families and working. Some have said it’s nice to have their families in the audience watching them, instead of the other way around for so many years!
It’s rewarding that this new program has been so successful and we have received local grants and sponsorships for our good work –including all ages in our mission to provide quality theatre to all. If you’d like to sponsor a show or program, contact joann@stageworksnj.org.
Come see a show, volunteer or donate to our non-profit and support our mission because helping others feels good!
Pricing:
- $28 adult presale
- $31 adult at door
- $20-$25 kids/juniors/seniors
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.stageworksnj.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stageworksnj237/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stageworksatstudio237
