
“I would love it if every member of the Manitowoc community came to see one show per year. If they just came to see one show per year, I have met my initial goal of fulfilling what is needed in this area.”
Those words come from Chicago native PJ Albert, the new Executive Director of Manitowoc’s Capitol Civic Centre. During a one on one interview with SeehaferNews.com, Albert said he’s been working with the Orlando Shakespeare Theater in various leadership capacities for the past 20-years. Albert told us, “When I saw that this position was available…I grew extremely interested due to the opportunity to get back to the Midwest, get back to my roots and to see the change of seasons again.”
The successor to the now retired Matt Schliesman tells us he came here in early July for in-person interviews and immediately fell in love with Manitowoc. “It is an amazing city,” he said. “This building alone is coming up on it’s 100th Anniversary. Being this close to Lake Michigan, I couldn’t ask for anything more in terms of scenery, and how inviting and welcoming people have been in this community. I knew immediately that this was a place I wanted to be.”
COVID-19 has affected live music venues far-and-wide since March, and the jewel on the lakeshore is no exception. The Capitol faces a $20,000 deficit because of the inability to put on live shows for months. Albert explains they’re looking to test reduced-capacity performances in mid-October, “which would be 250 audience members , but also a reduced stage presence of no more than 10-15 performers on stage. If that is successful, our goal is to try and look between our arts partners, other organizations and outside presenters of what we can offer going into the spring of 2021.”
The Capitol Civic Centre box office has been kept very busy contacting patrons about cancellations or postponements since the coronavirus hit. Albert is looking forward to the 100th anniversary of the Capitol building next year, with some special events being planned. PJ Albert says he will be moving his family from Orlando to Manitowoc later this week.