After a search that spanned the nation, the Rosebud Centre of the Arts (RCA) has selected a new Executive Director. Adam Furfaro, a native of Guelph, Ontario, arrived in Rosebud on Monday, March 12.
This week, Furfaro will be getting to know the RCA before heading back to Ontario to prepare his family for the big move out west in the summer.
“I’m excited to be here, see the launch (of the first play of the season), and meet the people I’m going to be working with,” said Furfaro. “I was attracted by what’s available at Rosebud. It seemed like the perfect job for me.”
Making the move from Ontario to Alberta is a big change, but it already feels like home.
“I’ve felt really at home and at ease the first two times I’ve been out here. I’ve spent quite a bit of time in Alberta working. My wife has too. We love the area, we love the Rockies, so it’s not a hard shift for us,” explained Furfaro.
While out here early in his career, Furfaro worked for Theatre Calgary, at the Icefields Parkway, and Stage West Calgary.
The main priorities for Furfaro are financial sustainability, increasing the audience base, and adding musicals, comedy, and family theatre.
Along with theatre productions, Furfaro would like to create a Rosebud experience with festivals and events to encourage visitors to stay for half a day or more and stay locally.
As far as education goes there is room for more.
“I’d love to see the school develop more programs along with the great programs they already offer,” said Furfaro.
There is also room to host other events.
"We want to be a centre people will bring their business and corporate meetings, church meetings, and weddings to,” explained Furfaro.
Furfaro has been a theatre professional for more than 25 years. Furfaro has worked as a producer, artistic director, actor, administrator, educator, director, and playwright.
Furfaro has directed just under 150 professional and educational plays and written or co-written many plays and musicals.
For the near future, Furfaro will be concentrating on learning more about the RCA and Rosebud.
“I’m going to see what everyone does and needs, experience the place, and work in all the areas,” said Furfaro. “We can make this a central figure to many arts, an entire community, and a huge badlands experience.”
