Amy S. Jensen steps into Managing Director role at Skylight

Today, the Skylight Opera Theatre announced that Amy S. Jensen is returning to the theater as  managing director. She replaces interim Managing Director Joan Lounsbery, who stepped into the role after Eric Dillner resigned during the heavily publicized debacle this past summer. Newly elected president John Stollenwerk made the announcement in a press release this afternoon.

“The Skylight has gained a skilled professional with 15 years of experience in leadership roles in the Milwaukee arts community,” outgoing Lounsbery states in the release. “Her financial expertise and her love of the Skylight make her the perfect choice for this organization.”

Jensen previously served as the Skylight Opera’s finance director for six years before her tenure as vice president and chief financial officer of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. A known arts lover and patron, Jensen has “provided consulting services for several area non-profits and has been invited to speak at a variety of local and national conferences such as Theatre Wisconsin, Association of Fundraising Professionals and Americans for the Arts.”

Jensen says, “I am so proud of the Skylight for beginning its 50th Anniversary Season with such a spectacular production of The Barber of Seville. It is the shining example of everything there is to love about the Skylight, and I am excited to be returning to the company in this new role at this time. I look forward to working with everyone who is a part of the Skylight family to solve the current challenges and build toward an exciting future.”

Skylight Opera faced a substantial deficit at the beginning of the 2009-10 budget year, which reportedly the board and then-Managing Director Eric Dillner whittled substantially by shedding several key personnel, including the beloved former Artistic Director William Theisen. Many of the cast, crew, patrons and philanthropic supporters revolted. In the end, Dillner left and former Skylight stalwarts Colin Cabot and Joan Lounsbery came in to fill the vacant spots. Many of the protesters of the Skylight returned, and during the recent open house and season opener all appeared to be well again — but the financial challenge of keeping the company afloat and prosperous remains.