The BETC Board announces a new leadership team: Managing Director Mark Ragan and Artistic Director Jessica Robblee.
Transformation is in the air for Butterfly Effect Theatre of Colorado. After 17 years of artistic and management leadership, BETC co-founders and husband-wife team Rebecca Remaly and Stephen Weitz finish their tenure with BETC in June and hand off new artistic direction and management of the award-winning regional theatre company. BETC’s board of directors voted unanimously to hire veteran artists Jessica Robblee and Mark Ragan to take the reins from Remaly and Weitz as part of a planned succession.
“We are so proud of everything that BETC has become and couldn’t be more pleased than to see it continue its journey as an important part of the local arts ecosystem,” said Weitz. “We’re thrilled to pass the baton to new leadership, especially to artists who possess such energy and passion for theatre,” added Remaly.
Both Robblee and Ragan are long-time supporters of BETC, and Robblee also appeared in the BETC production of This as an actor. This multi-talented duo founded another Denver-based theatre company, Clover & Bee, and they are no stranger to classic and contemporary theatrical works, or to Colorado theatre audiences.
Robblee and Ragan will announce four-productions for the 2023-2024 BETC season along with auxiliary programming in the coming months. The first production will launch in October at Boulder’s Dairy Arts Center. BETC’s operations will continue with a mix of new and existing staff and Board members.
“The BETC Board of Directors is committed to continuing the history of excellence in theatre that the company has embodied for the past 17 years,” said BETC Board Chair Lauri McNown. “We remain so very thankful to Rebecca and Stephen for their significant contributions as they envisioned, shaped, and grew BETC with such creative rigor, and we wish them only the best. We are excited for Jess and Mark’s experience and enthusiasm to now lead BETC forward, and we welcome them to our vibrant BETC community. BETC will carry on its mission in this next chapter so that we may continue to inspire audiences and serve as a catalyst for change.”
“Just as Mark and I were starting a season of shows at the Dairy, Stephen and Rebecca wanted to step away and explore other things,” said incoming BETC Artistic Director Jessica Robblee. “From the start, this idea has felt like a wildly lucky confluence of intentions. I feel so grateful and excited– BETC has created beautiful productions and community– and I feel honored to continue working away at doing the same.”
“I am humbled by the task before us,” said incoming BETC Managing Director Mark Ragan. “Following in the footsteps of Rebecca and Stephen will be a huge undertaking. But I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity given to us by the BETC board.”
The final BETC production under the leadership of Remaly and Weitz is Eden Prairie, 1971 by award-winning playwright Mat Smart. This midwestern love story set on the same evening as the Apollo 15 lunar landing will run April 6th – 29th at Boulder’s Dairy Arts Center, and tickets are on sale now here.
“BETC’s board of directors encourages everyone to join us for this National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere of Eden Prairie, 1971 as a way of showing appreciation to Rebecca and Stephen for their years of artistic excellence and stewardship and to welcome Jessica and Mark as they lead BETC into its next evolution,” said McNown.
