POTTSTOWN — Steel River Playhouse has announced that Leena Devlin will step down from her role as managing artistic director, effective June 30.
For 17 years, Devlin has dedicated her creative vision to Steel River in various capacities, serving the past 10 years as the overall manager of this nonprofit performance and arts education facility, the organization said. She plans to remain as a member of its board of directors, effective immediately upon her retirement.
Since joining the team in 2007, before Steel River moved to High Street, Devlin has been involved with various aspects of the organization. In 2014 she stepped into a leadership position following the exit of Steel River Playhouse’s founders Marta Kiesling and Deborah Stimson-Snow.
Devlin has managed the organization through challenges including the impact of the COVID pandemic on the venue and its programs.
She said she considers her role as creator and owner of The Refinery Workshop at Steel River Playhouse, a project she originated in 2019, as one of the accomplishments of which she is most proud. The Refinery sought submission of full-length, non-musical, unpublished, and previously unperformed plays. The competitive program resulted in more than 700 submissions of new works.
Ultimately, six of them were selected for workshops with a dramaturg, public readings, and, for the finalist, a full production in Steel River’s 2019-2020 season.
Although the Refinery was put on hold due to the pandemic and the theater’s subsequent recovery, Devlin said she looks forward to reviving this impactful endeavor while serving as a board member.
“For years, Leena has been the artistic — and operational — heart of Steel River Playhouse,” said Scott Bentley, co-president of Steel River’s board of directors. “Working more than full-time on a part-time salary, she has collaborated with Steel River’s staff, performers, patrons, and donors to bring people together to enjoy productions on High Street. We largely credit Leena with building our stellar reputation as a place where everyone enjoys working, performing, or being engaged and entertained.”
“It will be very difficult to fill Leena’s shoes,” said Cathy Skitko, co-president of the board. “Leena is passionate about generating Steel River performances that are innovative, thought-provoking, beautifully re-imagined, and — simply stated — highly entertaining. She is equally focused on providing performance arts training to area youths, regardless of their backgrounds and family income levels.”
“Importantly, Leena also understands the invaluable role Steel River plays in downtown Pottstown and in our community’s revitalization,” Skitko added. “She consistently emphasizes professionalism in all aspects of the theater and in attracting theatergoers and students from the greater region.”
The performing arts have been a central part of Devlin’s life since childhood. Her first theatrical experiences took place at People’s Light in Malvern in a summer camp very much like what Steel River provides for the Pottstown community.
Later she attended Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Va., and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. When she returned to the area from New York, she got involved in the local theater community and never looked back.
When not overseeing day-to-day operations of the theater, Devlin directed several Steel River productions including “I and You,” “Fun Home,” and currently “The Cake” which opens on Feb. 9. She also has performed as an actress, most recently in 2023 as the Witch in “Into The Woods.”
Steel River Playhouse will soon launch a search for a new executive director. This position will be posted on Indeed.com as well as in various arts- and theater-related publications.
Source: Berkshire mont