“All good things must come to an end.” That phrase has been in my mind as I prepare to end my tenure at Community Players.

It has truly been an honor to serve this organization, and our community as Managing Artistic Director for over 25 years. I really should not have gotten this job. I was recently out of college and while I had directed several shows, including summer stock productions, I had limited knowledge of the business side of running an arts non-profit. Remember it’s called “show business” for a reason.

Over time and with the freedom of trial and error I learned and grew, as did the organization. Budget and programming at CP had remained relatively unchanged for nearly 15 years when I arrived. I won’t take up space here listing everything we have accomplished over the last 25 years. Suffice to say from an operational, management, staffing, and programming stand point this is not the same theatre that I struggled to find when driving around Beatrice for the first time before my job interview.

What has stayed the same, however, is the passion of those involved. It’s a passion and dedication for doing the best work possible and pushing beyond expectations for what a community theatre in rural Nebraska can achieve. Since the founding of CP a phrase that has never been said by those involved is, “it’s just community theatre.” That attitude and the friendships that I developed over the years are what kept me here for so long.

As I move to my new role at Theatre Lawrence I have two hopes. The first, is for the passionate and limitless attitude I found here to be part of the culture of my new artistic home (which I’m confident it is). The second hope is for CP to build on all we’ve accomplished and continue going beyond expectations. That can happen with the community stepping forward to participate on and off stage, making sure there are financial resources to succeed, and collaborating on a vision for the future.

After CP’s new leadership has had time to establish themselves, I have no doubt you will see me from time to time. So instead of goodbye I’ll just say…

See you at the theatre!

Jamie Ulmer

Managing Artistic Director