Dianne Dawood is the executive director at Theatreworks.
WHAT IS THEATREWORKS?
Founded in 1979, Theatreworks provides educational theater for school children. Through biographical musicals, depictions of historical events and literary classics, classroom curriculum is reinforced.
WHAT DOES
THE JOB INVOLVE?
Dawood plans the programming for schools, camps and health care facilities. She also handles fundraising and administrative functions.
WHO ATTENDS THE PERFORMANCES?
School children, especially those in grade school from Northeast Florida, are the focus of the program. Recently, other special needs groups have been targeted. “We do presentations at the Hospice Camp for grieving children. We’ve put on shows at the Juvenile Detention Center, The Bridge, Pace Center for Girls and alternative centers. We’ve also included teens that are young parents and grandparents who want to spend more quality time with their grandchildren. There is an enormous population of refugees here through Lutheran Social Services. We put the refugee children into shows about American history. Even though there’s a language barrier, they understand. For rural populations with schools at the perimeter of the county, we put shows in their auditorium.”
WHY IS THEATREWORKS IMPORTANT?
“It’s another way of teaching. I go to showcases in New York and get big-time equity actors, so it’s quality theater. It never fails to spark creative writing and discussion. It gives them a measuring stick. The amateur talent in this community is amazing but they also need to experience the best of the best so, as adults, they’ll become more astute connoisseurs. They’ll know how to evaluate cultural experiences. They’ll hear about role models that changed people’s lives despite adversity.”
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR?
“Three years. I was a court reporter for almost 20 years, so I know a lot of lawyers. When I went into this business, several of those attorneys sponsored shows.”
WHAT OTHER BENEFACTORS
DO YOU HAVE?
“It’s a mix of foundations and corporate sponsors. Almost everybody is a local company or individual.”
WHY SWITCH CAREERS?
“I was always interested in art. I decided it was never too late to do what I wanted to do. I had a friend that was on the [Theatreworks] board. She passed along information that the founder was retiring.”
WHAT’S REWARDING ABOUT YOUR JOB?
“Providing a service to the youthful community and teachers. They always comment that the shows are exceptional. The audience participant becomes a consumer, a patron of the art experience for the rest of his life and feels moved to share that fantastic experience.”
WHAT’S MOST CHALLENGING?
“Making a connection with the children yet to be served and finding new sponsors to help with that. We see 125,000 children a year and I still hear comments that this is the first time they’ve been to a theater. I pair sponsors for every performance and it cuts the admission cost.”
HOMETOWN
Philadelphia.
EDUCATION
Dawood has a bachelor’s degree in art history and is working on her Ph.D at UNF.
RESIDES
San Marco.
AFFILIATIONS
Dawood is a member of Rotary Club of South Jacksonville, Jacksonville Women’s Network and North Florida Hunter-Jumper.
WHAT OTHER INTERESTS DO YOU HAVE?
“I enjoy equestrian events. I have a horse named Echo that I used to compete in fence jumping. Arts and illustrations is another hobby. I create my own greeting cards. Also, any outdoor activity, including yard work.”
her FAVORITE THINGS
In her leisure time, Dawood prefers dining at Matthew’s Restaurant or watching educational television. For entertainment, she tunes into “Gone With The Wind” or settles in with the novel, “Undaunted Courage.”
WHO’S YOUR HERO?
“Queen Elizabeth I. She was pivotal at a time when men had controlled much of the world’s energy, change and development. She put into action a lot of changes that she couldn’t live to see the benefits of. She created a whole art style, public schools and social reform. She was strong in the face of adversity. She maintained respect while making difficult decisions.”
— by Monica Chamness