Lincoln center will get a new leader

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 2/8/24 at 8:15am

Henry Timms is leaving.  I’m happy because he turned the place into a zoo.  I hope they restore Lincoln Center as an elegant place for classical music. 

[sinister teashop]

Posted: 2/8/24 at 8:52am

My, my, that was a short tenure. I suppose there are limits to “New Power” on the Upper West Side.

But in all seriousness, diversity, inclusion and the historical memory of racial and economic injustice aren’t brands to put up like stickers all over an arts campus. These are long term infrastructural problems that die hard and that take long term strategy to be worked on behind the scenes. Perhaps Timms was doing that but it seemed like it was more like a public performance or advertisement for a strategy.

I liked the turning of the summer Lincoln Center into a memorial of the bulldozed “San Juan Hill”. I didn’t like that that memory of displacement was then being used to sell a costly renovation. Still, Timmons’ tenure felt very post-#BLM. I have trepidation to see his post-Gaza replacement.

Updated On: 2/8/24 at 08:52 AM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/8/24 at 9:58am

Being president of Lincoln Center is a tough gig. You have to deal with screaming constituent organizations, it's mostly a management role, LC does very little producing in their own right (outside of the new Summer in the City festival which appears to have been a rousing success), and they don't exclusively program any venues.

He's done a great job of laying the groundwork for a more equitable Lincoln Center that appeals to more than the dying, blue-haired Upper West Siders, and I hope they do move forward with a facelift of the west side of the campus.

Updated On: 2/8/24 at 09:58 AM

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 2/8/24 at 11:23am

I really hated the summer in the city. The big disco ball over the fountain was tacky.  I hope whoever comes in brings the people in by not running away from what Lincoln center is about.  I hope they get a president who has actually worked in the arts and can have a positive impact on the programming at LC. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/8/24 at 11:49am

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts' mission is TO SUSTAIN, ENCOURAGE, AND PROMOTE THE PERFORMING ARTS AND TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC WITH RELATION THERETO.

That's what it is and was always "about."

That's what the Summer in the City Festival was about. It's a vehicle for bringing people onto the campus –– especially those who haven't been there before –– and offering public events that give back to the community. That's what a major nonprofit landlord should be doing.

If people want to hear classical music written before they were born, there are still hundreds of offerings on that campus every year to satiate them. Focusing almost exclusively on classical and instrumental music is a great way for an organization to die, and those who have a problem with such evolutions within arts institutions tend to sound like MAGA extremists.

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 2/8/24 at 12:39pm

What does a dance party have to do with the programming at LC?  I doubt summer in the city brought new people in. Probably people who either go to Lincoln center, or people who have never seen anything there and just wanted to dance.  It was tacky and I hope they don’t do it again. 

[matty159]

Posted: 2/8/24 at 12:47pm

Broadway Flash said: "What does a dance party have to do with the programming at LC? I doubt summer in the city brought new people in. Probably people who either go to Lincoln center, or people who have never seen anything there and just wanted to dance. It was tacky and I hope they don’t do it again."

You contradicted yourself here.  You doubt it brought new people in and then say it might have brought new people who have never seen anything then  and wanted to dance.  I thought it was kinda cool and it did likely bring in new people.  Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 2/8/24 at 1:04pm

Just to be clear, this is about Lincoln Center, not Lincoln Center Theater right?

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/8/24 at 1:10pm

Dancingthrulife2 said: "Just to be clear, this is about Lincoln Center, not Lincoln Center Theater right?"

Correct. This is about Henry Timms, head of the Lincoln Center parent organization, and it has little bearing on LCT's activities.

Andre Bishop's successor at Lincoln Center Theater has not yet been named (though I speculated on another thread that Kwame Kwei-Armah, who's leaving the Old Vic, could be a good candidate).

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 2/8/24 at 1:46pm

Yeah I’m sure new people went to the disco. How many of them purchased a ticket to the ny Phil afterwards?

[matty159]

Posted: 2/8/24 at 3:23pm

Broadway Flash said: "Yeah I’m sure new people went to the disco. How many of them purchased a ticket to the ny Phil afterwards?"

I mean, that is a good question.  Assuming the summer events were ticketed (free or not), LC (should have) captured patron information to add to mailing lists and email blasts.  With more modern programming at the Met, movies with a live orchestra, and programming at Jazz at LC, they may have been able to capture some new audiences.  Only they would know this data, but it is possible.  As someone who works in hospitality, I sent many people to their events last summer and got excellent feedback, so if nothing else, it brought an awareness of LC to people who had never been.  Which was rather the part of the point in the long run.

[Kad]

Posted: 2/8/24 at 3:33pm

Lincoln Center is expansive enough to have summertime disco parties - which, frankly, brought a lot more sharing of Lincoln Center to my social media feeds than the Philharmonic ever does- and also appeal to classical music lovers while not focusing on one to the detriment of the other. 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 8/8/24 at 3:40am

Mariko Silver has been announced as the 12th President and CEO of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.  She worked in the Obama administration.  She has a foreign policy background, and worked at DHS.  I’m sick of these people coming in and not having any relevant experience.  She’s probably barely walked in any of those theatres.  Is it too much to ask for to get someone who actually knows what goes on?  Apparently she’s gonna build on the summer for the city.  That thing needs to be stopped, not ramped up.  And i also read that she’s gonna build on the reimagining of the Amsterdam Avenue side of Lincoln center.  Cant wait for that one. 

Updated On: 8/8/24 at 03:40 AM

[JasonC3]

Posted: 8/8/24 at 7:39am

She seems like a fairly accomplished nonprofit executive. It is not usual for their careers to commonly include CEO and top positions for organizations in a variety of disciplines.

Excerpts from the NYT article about Silver:

"Mariko Silver, a prominent leader in education, government and the nonprofit sphere, will serve as the next president and chief executive of Lincoln Center, the organization announced on Wednesday.

Silver, who previously led Bennington College in Vermont and the Henry Luce Foundation in New York, will succeed Henry Timms, who left last month after five years in the job.

The appointment is a milestone for Lincoln Center: Silver, 46, whose father is Jewish and mother is Japanese American, will be the first woman of color to serve as president and chief executive. It is also a homecoming of sorts: Silver grew up a few blocks from the center and studied dance and theater as a child.

Steven R. Swartz, the president and chief executive of Hearst, who serves as chair of Lincoln Center’s board, said the organization was impressed by Silver’s record as a nonprofit executive. At Bennington, where she was president from 2013 to 2019, she oversaw the largest capital campaign in the school’s history, raising more than $90 million. She also serves as chair of the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art’s board and was an official at the Department of Homeland Security in the Obama administration." Updated On: 8/9/24 at 07:39 AM

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 8/8/24 at 8:23am

Broadway Flash said: "Yeah I’m sure new people went to the disco. How many of them purchased a ticket to the ny Phil afterwards?"

Here’s an idea. If you don’t like the dance parties, DON’T GO TO THEM!!!!!!!

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 8/9/24 at 2:08pm

Broadway Flash said: "Mariko Silver has been announced as the 12th President and CEO of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. She worked in the Obama administration. She has a foreign policy background, and worked at DHS.I’m sick of these people coming in and not having any relevant experience. She’s probably barely walked in any of those theatres. Is it too much to ask for to get someone who actuallyknows what goes on? Apparently, she’s gonna build on the summer for the city. That thing needs to be stopped, not ramped up. And i also read that she’s gonna build on the reimagining of the Amsterdam Avenue side of Lincoln center. Can't wait for that one."

Here's another idea: if you don't like the vision Silver has for Lincoln Center, then don't spend your money there.

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 8/9/24 at 4:39pm

Excuse me mods, it is a well known fact that Lincoln center is a high target for terrorists.  That is not controversial, that is a fact.  They are always trying to go after cultural institutions.  On the anniversary of 9/11 we should discuss that and make sure people remain vigilant, and deleting this conversation is doing a disservice to New Yorkers and visitors. 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 8/9/24 at 5:03pm

Broadway Flash said: "Excuse me mods, it is a well known fact that Lincoln center is a high target for terrorists. That is not controversial, that is a fact. They are always trying to go after cultural institutions. On the anniversary of 9/11 we should discuss that and make sure people remain vigilant, and deletingthis conversation is doing a disservice to New Yorkers and visitors."


Not only are you an obnoxious nutcase, you’re also dangerous.

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 8/9/24 at 8:07pm

No im not, im just making a point that this new lady could use her homeland security skills to keep Lincoln center safe.  Thats about the only thing she can contribute to Lincoln center, as far as I’m concerned. 

[JasonC3]

Posted: 8/9/24 at 9:46pm

Hard to believe the search committee didn't reach out to you for guidance on their decision.

[Melissa25]

Posted: 8/10/24 at 12:46am

I’m glad there is some new blood.  Lincoln Center is large enough to expand its audience and still focus on classical art forms.  I hope Ms. Silver creates some festivals with broad appeal.  I personally miss The White Light Festival and American Songbook. 

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 8/10/24 at 7:34am

Broadway Flash said: "Excuse me mods, it is a well known fact that Lincoln center is a high target for terrorists. That is not controversial, that is a fact. They are always trying to go after cultural institutions. On the anniversary of 9/11 we should discuss that and make sure people remain vigilant, and deletingthis conversation is doing a disservice to New Yorkers and visitors."

For the love of god! GO AWAY!!!!!

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 8/10/24 at 11:38am

If there were to be an attack, Lincoln Center is far from a likely target. Times Square and the theatre district are more at risk than Lincoln Center will ever be. It’s Times Square, an area known the world over with a lot more people there.

Remember, in 2012 when Mike Tyson had his one man show on Broadway, someone went onto twitter stating that they were planning to shoot up the theatre. Even going so far to say that it would be worse than the at the time, Aurora Colorado movie theatre shooting. And, also a few years back, there was a guy who tried to detonate a car bomb in the middle of Times Square. So no, it’s not a well known fact that Lincoln Center is in any danger. You’re just idiotically stirring the pot because you’re utterly clueless. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 8/10/24 at 3:06pm

The degree of utter cluelessness increases geometrically when the apparent obliviousness to the level of surveillance and intelligence already in place, both in house at Lincoln Center and much more importantly (and for better or worse) through the intelligence and counter-terrorism task forces of the NYPD and federal government.It is also clueless to think that it is the job of head of Lincoln Center to micromanage this type of work. But there is a pathology that drives some to lob rhetorical Molotov cocktails into discussions. They have been here before and will likely be here again but the good news is that like their incendiaries, they burn out fairly quickly. 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 8/10/24 at 7:23pm

There was a list I saw maybe three years ago of the top terrorist targets in America.  Most of them were in New York and Washington and Lincoln center was in the top 10. And now with everything that’s going on in Gaza, the terrorists only hate us even more, and the threat has been heightened.  This is coming from the intelligence community and all the security officials across the government. So, no, it is not throwing a Molotov cocktail into the discussion. It is the truth.  And frankly, those security guards are useless.  I’ve been to the stage doors at Lincoln center, there’s constantly people coming in and out especially at David geffen.  The people who work there but also outside contractors.  I’ve seen alarms going off and they didn’t even know how to stop it.