Munoz, Stokes resign from the Flat Rock Playhouse

From the Hendersonville Lightning:

Two more longtime Flat Rock Playhouse employees have resigned as the organization continued to experience turmoil even as its financial situation improved.

The resignations brought a new challenge for the Playhouse and its leaders just when it seemed to have survived a rocky five-week trial and set a course toward long term stability. The Playhouse has raised almost $500,000 in public and private money since leaders announced in mid-November that it was out of cash and in danger of shutting down....

Production manager Billy Munoz and public relations director Sharon Stokes resigned this week. Eric Leach, the YouTheatre music supervisor, also resigned but his resignation to tour with a commercial theater production had been in the works for some time. Munoz's resignation was a surprise because he had led a social media-based effort that raised thousands of dollars from current and former Playhouse actors locally and around the world.

Munoz said he left over a difference of opinion in the management approach that producing artistic director Vincent Marini has taken. Munoz said he tried in two meetings with the board, one with Marini present, one not, to explain that longtime employees needed to be heard and needed input on the direction of the theater. "I don't want to stir the pot or create a stink," he said. "It's a difference of opinion in how the management should be done in the future and I'm steering away from that."

Munoz, who is also an actor and drummer, said he tried to foster "an open dialogue" between disillusioned employees and the board and management. He accused Marini of "mismanagement of time, people and money."

Munoz and Stokes follow a growing parade of mid- to high-ranking veteran leaders who have quit in a difference of opinion over the theater's direction or to pursue other theater jobs....

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