Less than a year after leaving to take a job elsewhere, former Porter County Memorial Opera House Executive Director Scot MacDonald is back serving as interim director.
His first day was Monday and his appointment will be announced at the Porter County Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday morning.
“We’re thrilled to have Scot back and look forward to great success with the remodeling and his expertise,” said Commissioner Laura Blaney, D-South, who helps oversee the MOH operations.
She said MacDonald will be busy making new seating maps, planning ticket pricing, and organizing a grand reopening. The MOH is undergoing a nearly $5 million renovation that will expand the flow of common areas, refresh all bathroom finishes, update systems, and replace seating. “These seats are bigger and more comfortable, but that gives us fewer seats,” Blaney said of the downsizing from 350 to 325 seats.
Megan Stoner, who held the position since September, resigned in May. MacDonald was initially hired as a consultant by the Board of Commissioners to assist Blaney remotely in early June until a new executive director could be found but was coincidentally moving back to the area.
MacDonald originally joined the MOH in December 2012 after years of volunteering. He served as box office manager, artistic director from 2013 to 2016, and was executive director from 2016 to 2023.
While he was away, MacDonald was the managing director for Theatre Charlotte in Charlotte, North Carolina, a slightly smaller venue than the MOH with 226 seats. “The only big difference was they were privately run,” he said.
His return could be permanent should the commissioners desire it. “I’m pretty much open to just about anything,” MacDonald said. “I think this is just to make sure things are in good shape, but if things open up permanently I am very interested.”
Upon reopening, which is loosely scheduled for August, renovation schedules permitting, the MOH will put on “Young Frankenstein,” followed by “Scrooge” for its annual Christmas show.
Blaney said she, MacDonald and stakeholders will also be busy figuring out what 2025 will look like. “I do look forward to him working with the (MOH) Foundation because they’re fantastic and we couldn’t survive without them.”
MacDonald said the 2025 season’s shows would typically be announced right about now, so finalizing those plans is a top priority.
“We want to get something out to our subscribers as soon as we possibly can because they have been very patient dealing with all the construction,” he said. “It’s just really looking at everything to make sure that it makes financial sense, that it’s something that is appealing to all of our patrons.”
That includes a shift in patronage while MacDonald was away. While the typical patron tends to be on the older side, MacDonald said sales have shifted more toward the single adult ticket.
“I think we’re in good shape right now,” he said. “We’re looking at some great things in the future. I’m very happy to be back.”
Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.