Haymarket Theatre director resigning

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By JEFF KORBELIK / Lincoln Journal Star

Haymarket Theatre founder and executive director Fred Stuart is leaving Lincoln for a new job, but the theater plans to remain open.

“We’re doing an extensive search,” said Mark Bestul, Lincoln attorney and Haymarket Theatre board president. “We’ll try to find the right person to fit in and have the vision that Fred developed.”

Licensing agency Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW) recently named Stuart director of sales, marketing and materials. He, his wife, Willo, and their 2-year-old son, Anderson, will move to New York City.

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Fred Stuart as the Emcee in the Haymarket Theatre's production of "Cabaret" in January 2005. (LJS file)

Fred Stuart as the Emcee in the Haymarket Theatre's production of "Cabaret" in January 2005. (LJS file)

Stuart, 45, will begin his new job Sept. 1. He will lead the development of performance materials for new musicals from the company’s Manhattan offices.

TRW is a new licensing company, starting in October 2006. Since then, it’s  acquired the rights to such Broadway blockbusters as “Monty Python’s Spamalot,” “Curtains,” “The Color Purple” and “Ring of Fire.”

Stuart has served as a consultant to TRW for two years, managing their Nickelodeon Theatricals department, developing popular TV series “Blue’s Clues” and “Rugrats” for the stage.

“(TRW) has taken New York by storm,” Stuart said. “It’s instantly become a force, an international force.”

Stuart opened the Haymarket Theatre in 2002. It’s on the second floor of the Port Huron building at Eighth and Q streets in the Haymarket.

During his tenure,  he directed many plays and musicals while developing the Haymarket’s playgoers series, presenting titles including “Cabaret,” “Urinetown,” Yoko Ono’s “New York Rock,” “I Am My Own Wife,” “Animal Farm,” “Jane Eyre” and “Lord of the Flies.”

Stuart’s development and leadership of the Nebraska Youth Theatre resulted in scores of productions, featuring hundreds of young actors performing for thousands of theatre-goers.

“The slew of students we’ve had is the driving force here,” he said. “That part I’ll really miss.”

Stuart also championed partnerships and collaborations with several local arts organizations including Flatwater Shakespeare Company, Rough Magic Productions and Lincoln Contemporary Dance Project.

“I think it’s been a very, very positive relationship,” Flatwater Shakespeare artistic director Bob Hall said. “He really helped get things started for us.”

In the coming months, Stuart will continue to develop and direct The Haymarket Theatre’s Nebraska Youth Theatre, including productions of “Willy Wonka” and “Les Miserables.”

Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com.