Just under a year since she was appointed executive director of in 2022, Irene Green is already making waves with her exciting vision for the theater. In her position, Green oversees all operations of The OāShaughnessy building, working closely and strategizing with various departments.
āThe other half of the role,ā says Green, āis programming, curating what happens in The OāShaughnessy, and also working with internal and external partners in collaborations to make those dreams come to reality, both on campus and in the community.ā
Green has been active in the arts for most of her life, and says the opportunity to work at St. Kateās drew her attention for its unique commitment to its mission, vision and values, as well as the opportunity to practice art in a new ecosystem. āSt. Kateās has a very strong mission, vision, and values, and ā¦ itās exciting to think about how we can uplift The OāShaughnessy through that same lens.ā
Since it was built in 1970, has been a steadfast venue for the Twin Cities and Minnesota region, hosting renowned performers and speakers such as The Second City and Coretta Scott King. Green is passionate about continuing to make art accessible, topical, and engaging for the community beyond the campus gates.
āI think The OāShaughnessy can grow to be even more known over time as the place in Minneapolis-Saint Paul where there is thoughtful, specific art and conversations that reflect and wrestle with what St. Kateās is all about.ā Additionally, she curates O'Shaughnessy programming that will be able to āhold handsā with academic events such as the Katie Leadership Impact, including the latest event in the Women of Color Leadership Series, Courageous Leadership: Our Efforts to Educate Women and Girls in Afghanistan.
The O'Shaughnessy celebrated International Women's Day with a keynote address from award-winning author Louise Erdrich, the 2023 Bonnie Jean and Joan Kelly Visiting Scholar.
One of Greenās current passion projects is building a cohort of artists and artistic groups who can call The OāShaughnessy home. Over this past winter, her team released applications to for artist residencies at The OāShaughnessy. Four of the applying companies have been selected, all of which have had previous experience at The OāShaughnessy. Green is building a partnership in which The OāShaughnessy can function as a binding agent for these artists, providing them not only with a venue, but a mutually beneficial relationship in audience development and outreach. These four artistic companies have all been selected for their unique attributes, artistic excellence, and connection to St. Kateās mission. Green urges the St. Kateās and Twin Cities communities to stay on the lookout for the , coming July 6!
Green is particularly excited about continuing to increase “ŗÓźÖ±²„ connection to The OāShaughnessy, and the conversations sheās begun to have with “ŗÓźÖ±²„s. āThere are “ŗÓźÖ±²„s at St. Kateās who had robust lives in the arts when they were in high school, and were interested in the arts, and now theyāre at St. Kateās and theyāre majoring in whatever theyāve chosen. So how can we keep avenues open for “ŗÓźÖ±²„s who are interested in practicing art or having arts in their livesā¦ how can The OāShaughnessy be part of that?ā
The answer, Green believes, lies in programming for ā and created by ā “ŗÓźÖ±²„s and in The OāShaughnessy as a campus resource for them. āThere have been many timesā¦through viewing a live piece of art where Iāve learned about a concept or an idea or a perspective in a way that I donāt think I could have learned in any other medium. I think thereās an opportunity for the live performing arts to play a role in the learning that is happening for “ŗÓźÖ±²„s here on campus.ā
Green is continuing to ask how “ŗÓźÖ±²„s can be more involved with The OāShaughnessy. Sheās spoken to an advisory program that includes “ŗÓźÖ±²„s on the upcoming programming, and hopes The OāShaughnessy lobby will be able to become a study spot on campus. āI want this to be a place where “ŗÓźÖ±²„s feel welcome and comfortable, and that they're excited about.ā
Students rehearse for DNA by Dennis Kelly in the Frey Theater.
Student organizations, such as the theater group Dewdrop Drama Company, are one example of “ŗÓźÖ±²„-directed engagement with The OāShaughnessy. āHereās a “ŗÓźÖ±²„ group practicing exactly the kinds of stuff that myself and my team are doing every day," Green says. "Thatās the worldās most natural alignment.ā The OāShaughnessy team has taken it upon themselves to support the “ŗÓźÖ±²„ theater group, offering resources, advice, and the use of the Frey Theater this spring.
Irene Green, having been with The OāShaughnessy for just about a year, is brimming with experience and enthusiasm for her work. Looking to the future, she says, āI think at the end of the day, the arts are about creating meaningful experiences that change peopleās lives, and the arts are about building community as people come togetherā¦ There is such an opportunity for us now and in the future to curate work that invites people to have those experiences."
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