The Orpheum Theatre in Galesburg announced this morning that Kevin Maynard has officially resigned as Executive Director effective December 3rd. Maynard was offered and accepted the role of Executive Director at Quad City Arts in Rock Island. In Maynards five years at the Orpheum, the historic theatre quadrupled the number of events and shows as well as doubled rental revenue, increased attendance, and lead a successful capital campaign making several improvements. He says that it’s his experience at the Orpheum Theatre and in Galesburg and the recognition the theatre has gotten in the region that helped him get the new position. The Orpheum’s Board of Directors will oversee the transition and the search for a new Executive Director. “The really cool thing about this time is that I’ve got a really strong team at the theatre,” Maynard said. “Tim (Holmes), Erin (Glasnovich) and Ross (McIntire) are fantastic. They will easily be able to handle the things that are going to be coming their way right now and the theatre will continue to operate as it has for the past five years. It’s good timing. I cannot say enough positive things about them.” After his first year, the theatre sat with negative $70,000. By the end of his second year, the theatre had negative $488. In 2016, the theatre launched its capital campaign where just under $1 million was raised in less than four months which led to a new sound system, carpet, HVAC system, facade, and fire safety system. As the Orpheum now goes through a transitional period, Maynard says now is the time to donate. “I love Galesburg and I love the Orpheum Theatre and I love everything that comes with those two things,” Maynard said. “It was a difficult decision to come to, but this is the next step, and I knew I had to take that. If you really want to say goodbye, (then) really embrace the theatre right now because I want only the best to happen. I have a strong team in place and a strong board (so) I know that they will make that happen.” Maynard says his favorite show in the past five years at the Orpheum has been when Kevin Smith came to town for two sold-out nights. His proudest moment came during the Orpheum’s Centennial Gala in 2016 where they were able to make that announcement that they were $70,000 over their capital campaign goal at $920,000.
