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Date: 2/22/2022
HOLYOKE – Priscilla Kane Hellweg has worked for the Enchanted Circle Theater for 40 years. After joining the company right out of college, Hellweg had a “natural and organic” growth through various roles. Her final role as executive artistic director came to an end on Dec. 31, 2021 when she officially left Enchanted Circle Theater to pursue new adventures.
Hellweg joined the theater as a performing artist before moving into roles such as teaching artist, director, playwright and curriculum director. She officially became the executive artistic director in 1986.
“I had a lot of energy, so it just kept growing and growing,” said Hellweg.
According to Hellweg, she felt that it was time to step back and let the current company evolve further without her. She is also interested in pursuing other passions and taking more time for herself.
“Forty years is a good long run and, as I say, it has been a love affair. This was really my first born, but it’s also pretty all-consuming,” said Hellweg. “I think doing 57 things at once wouldn’t allow me to do a 58th, 59th and 60th, so I felt like this was a perfect opportunity for me to move on and follow other passions and dive in deeper to some of the same passions.”
She hopes to finish the book she has been working on for the last eight years, “Actively Engaged: Theater Arts in the Classroom,” and is working on a new nonprofit association in collaboration with Mount Holyoke College.
“I’m very excited about really focusing my energy on the Institute for Arts Integration which is something that I’ve been building slowly over the last 10 years that has always been grant funded and when the grants run out, the programs run out. Really it’s a center for arts integration where we are training the trainers and doing action research, publications and producing both public art and teaching tools. I’m really looking forward to focusing in on that in a very productive way,” said Hellweg.
She said that she will miss the people and the creative process at Enchanted Circle Theater the most.
“But I don’t think I will stop doing the creative process and I will be in touch with many of the same people. My mother said to me many, many years ago when we were moving from one town to another that if all the people you loved in your life stayed in your life every day, you’d have no time for anything. So I think I will keep doing the things I love doing and I will move on from the things that I don’t love doing anymore,” said Hellweg.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Hellweg is also excited for the simple pleasures.
“Taking long walks with my husband and dog. And visiting my adult sons and having a little more time in the day. It’s been a mad dash for 40 years,” she said.
She looks forward to seeing what the future holds for the Enchanted Circle Theater.
“I’m very excited to see the teaching artists really stepping into more administrative roles and developing their vision for the company and I look forward to supporting where they go,” said Hellweg.
Amy Dopp, president of the board for Enchanted Circle Theater, said that they are optimistic for their future and are planning to announce new organizational plans as soon as possible.
“Priscilla has departed Enchanted Circle in a strong position as a nationally recognized organization focused on inspiring learning through the arts. I have been lucky to be a part of the board of directors of this amazing organization for many years. The board is currently working with a consultant and the staff to provide temporary management and support for our programs while we study various governance models. We will announce a plan for the organization by the end of the school year,” said Dopp.
Those interested in learning more about the Enchanted Circle Theater are encouraged to visit their website at http://www.enchantedcircletheater.com/.