photo by Mike Burke
Redding’s historic Cascade Theatre is happy to announce the appointment of the theater’s new management team. Jana Pulcini-Leard has been named to the restructured position of General Manager and Executive Producer. Currently the theater’s producer for two annual in-house productions— A Cascade Christmas and the Spring musical (this year Peter Pan, set for an April run)—she has built one of the organization’s most successful programs. With a BA in Recording Arts and Theater from Loyola Marymount University and a connection to the Cascade from opening day (she played Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz on opening night in 2004), Jana was a local business owner in downtown Redding for many years. She has been a member of the Downtown Redding Business Association, Chamber of Commerce, Winterfest Committee for Viva Downtown, the recipient of the Downtown Business Woman of the Year award and was involved in a number of local nonprofit groups and fundraising events. This new role will continue her involvement in locally produced shows while ensuring that the business operations of the theater and the needs of patrons and clients receive full attention. “I am excited about this new challenge and about all the challenges to follow as we work to build the Cascade’s business and strive diligently to deepen partnerships with our community,” said Pulcini-Leard. “This theater was built by the community and exists to serve it.”
The theater is also happy to announce the appointment of Haley Sadler to the new position of Assistant Theater Manager. Ms. Sadler was previously the theater’s Box Office and Marketing Manager before returning to school to get her Master’s degree. She was instrumental in starting and building the outside box office services program that is now part of the Cascade Theater’s service to other arts organizations. Prior to joining the Cascade, she was a customer service supervisor for a major national corporation. She is on the Board of Shasta County Citizens Advocating Respect and a member of the Catalyst Young Professionals. Formerly a member of the Soroptimists and of both the Downtown Redding Business Association and the Downtown Collaborative, she has strong ties to our vendors, media and major stakeholders. “I am happy to be back at the Cascade. I love this theater and the volunteers, staff and patrons it represents,” says Sadler. “The community has such a love for this place that I feel a real responsibility to help it be all that it can be.” The Cascade Theatre and its sister, the Holly Theatre in Medford, Oregon, are operated by Jefferson Live, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the JPR Foundation based in Ashland, Oregon. “When looking at how best to move forward at the Cascade, it was clear that business-minded leadership with deep roots in the Redding community would be essential and as we looked at who we already had in our midst, the plan just came together,” said Jefferson Live Executive Director Randy McKay. Citing Pulcini-Leard’s connections with both the arts and business communities and the Cascade itself as well as Sadler’s community ties and relationship with the theater’s vendors, media representatives and volunteers, McKay said “This is a dream team. I’m really relieved that both of them have such a love for the theater and agreed to be a part of moving it forward.”
The transition to the new leadership structure has already begun following unanimous Board approval late last week. Because of Pulcini-Leard’s responsibilities for Peter Pan, opening at the Cascade April 17, and her scheduled maternity leave, the full transition will take place over several months with Sadler assuming more of the duties early on.
– Adapted from Press Release
