5 Questions with Lynn Meyers of ETC

Here is the first, in what I hope becomes a long, on-going series of blog entries that let us better know OUR NEIGHBORS and the neighborhood here in OTR.

Seems appropriate that D. Lynn Meyers is the first entry.  The Ensemble is a wonderful neighbor and an anchor for Vine Street.  It was always apparent that the Ensemble and the loyal patrons who attend the performances were important to the shops and restaurants in the neighborhood, but when I was asked to gather figures I realized I had seriously under-valued Ensemble’s importance.

Lynn has always understood the power of the arts to help a neighborhood thrive.

What do you do in Over-The-Rhine?

For the past 14 years, I have been the Producing Artistic Director of Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, Cincinnati’s premiere theatre, which is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary and celebrating 25 years in Over-the-Rhine. We produce regional premieres…contemporary theatre that often has just closed in New York. Beyond our productions, we also have several educational outreach programs that target low income areas with young students who often have little or no arts programs in their schools, again focusing on OTR and the surrounding urban areas of Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky.

Why do you decide to set up business/work in OTR?

I did not found the theatre, so I cannot claim credit. The two women (Ruth Sawyer and Mary Taft Mahler) who did were financial supporters of the theatre from its inception and strongly believed that Cincinnati needed another professional theatre (in addition to Playhouse in the Park) specifically to keep local theatre artists employed and earning a livable wage in Cincinnati. They could have set up the theatre anywhere in the city, so I think it’s very cool that so many years ago, they saw the potential in this neighborhood and how a professional arts organization could positively impact the area as an artistic and economic anchor. During the early years, ETC only had a couple hundred subscribers, but now we have nearly 1,700 subscribers who regularly come to theatre and OTR for each show, meaning they too knew that OTR had this potential to flourish and believed in the ETC  and OTR experience. For me, I returned to my hometown of Cincinnati from Los Angeles because I believed in the mission of the theatre and the powerful difference it could make in OTR and for our city. It’s been a very rewarding experience.

Is there anything that has surprised you about working or having a business in OTR?

I think the best surprise is that my hope of seeing the neighborhood heal and reinvent itself has come to fruition. It’s not really a surprise, though, more like a joy. I feel honored that the organization has lived up to its potential that our founders saw so many years ago.  It will continue to be hard work, but it will certainly continue to have its rewards.

Do you have a favorite place you like to go in OTR?  (Reastaurant, Bar, Shop, place to exercise, Theatre)

Ensemble Theatre is not only my workplace, but my favorite place in OTR. It’s like a second home to me. It represents a great introduction to the future with our dedication to new works and I also love the fact that ETC has a wonderfully diverse audience. It is great to see people who may never have shared an experience or even interacted with each other, share experiences at ETC. I think that’s what is so wonderful about the arts and something that has always been at the core of what ETC does.

If you had a magic wand what would you change in OTR?

I would use my wand to put a huge welcome sign over the area and erase the misconception that still holds on with some of our citizens that OTR is dangerous and unsafe. I would use that wand to change perceptions and welcome them when they arrived. I am happy, though, to say that that misconception has drastically declined over the past few years. Most people who come to the area who haven’t been down here in a while are blown away by how much the neighborhood has improved and the sense of community they feel.

Thanks very much Lynn.