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Redhouse Arts Center's new executive director gets his start

Portrait of a man with a white beard in a business suit.
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Redhouse
Franklin Fry is the new executive director of the Redhouse Arts Center.

The Redhouse Arts Center in downtown Syracuse is not only getting ready for the grand unveiling of its new location on Salina Street, it’s also welcoming its next executive director, Franklin Fry. While the finishing touches on the building, like the marquee, continue to go up, the venue continues to offer shows and programs.

Fry, who is leaving the local Syracuse chapter of the American Heart Association for the new role, said he now has a front row seat to the transformation of the old Sibley’s Building. Fry joined WAER's Arts & Culture Reporter John Smith to discuss his love of theater.

John Smith: I hear you're a member of Actors Equity Association as well and have prior 10 years of stage management experience as well.

Franklin Fry: Yes, it's interesting. For those who have only known my time in Syracuse, my roots are actually in the theater. It's what I first found when I was growing up. It's what I did in junior high school in high school community theater. And then when I went to college, got my degree in theater with a major in acting, but then was lucky enough to do some regional theater work where I was able to get my equity card, which is the union card for actors and stage managers. And it was stage management that actually is a part of theatre that I fell into and had the longest tenure with before I moved on to other opportunities. So this is very much a return a homecoming.

JS: How many years have you lived here now?

FF: Full time, coming up on about 13.

JS: All right, so have you performed in any productions over the years?

FF: No, no, no. Although that was my training, I found my skill set was much more suitable for behind the scenes stage management. So stage managing is a skill set that I think has informed me in everything I've done over the course of my career, whether it be in the theater, or outside of the theater.

JS: I can't think of a more exciting time it must be for you to make this move, just as the Red House is, you know, really fully getting situated in its new location downtown.

FF: Yeah, you know, it's fascinating. The Red House was founded in 2004, with a mission to sort of foster our community to embrace the arts, especially for those who are an underserved, under resourced parts of our community. And so we're about to hit the 20th anniversary of The Red House. And the timing of that couldn't be more auspicious, because that new space on Solana Street is truly state of the art ready for primetime. And I think the Syracuse community is going to be pleasantly surprised with just how much is going on there. And what is available there for community groups and corporations to use the space in many different ways. It's a massive space with multiple theaters, multiple rehearsal spaces,

JS: And how is all of the construction going?

I've now been in and out of there over the last couple of months. And every time I go by, it's getting closer and closer and the marquis being finalized. And that's getting ready. We're anticipating a formal, you know, opening of the entire space sometime later this summer.

JS: Are there other ideas that are already going around in your mind?

FF: There are some things around my mind. But I'll tell you the spectacular staff that is leading you know, the artistic director and the programming director, let alone the volunteer board of directors has sort of gotten the theater to the where it is today. That's an incredible group of individuals. So I will be spending the first month or so really diving into their brains to see what their visions are so I can see where I could possibly fit in. But for me, the biggest message right now is Syracuse, there is such a jewel in the red house. And if you aren't familiar with it, you need to take a time to get to know the red house, visit the website red house.org. See the different aspects that are going on and learn about this incredible resource that's sitting right in downtown.

JS: Well, Franklin fry, do appreciate speaking with you and all the best as you officially started with the red house right around the corner.

FF: May 8th! Coming up soon!

JS Well, very good. Hope to talk to you in the future, as well.

FF: Alrighty, thank you so much.