After 12 years, Michael Bobbitt is leaving as artistic director of Adventure Theatre MTC, a Glen Echo children’s theater company that also includes a training academy for students in Rockville.
Bobbitt, 46, announced Friday that he will leave the theater July 1 to become artistic director at New Repertory Theatre in Watertown, Massachusetts, a Boston suburb.
During Bobbitt’s tenure, Adventure productions won eight awards and received more than 60 nominations. Bobbitt also helped the organization merge with Rockville-based Musical Theater Center in 2012. The number of patrons tripled during his dozen years.
Bobbitt said stepping away from the county theater was a difficult decision and that leaving his friends and colleagues will be “bittersweet” but the job at New Repertory “seemed like a good opportunity to consider.” He informed his business partner, Managing Director Leon Seemann, of his decision earlier this month.
“Leon is a very good friend and we’ve gotten very close and so leaving him is very painful as well,” he said.
“Of course, I’m sad that Michael is leaving ATMTC but, at the same time, I’m proud of him. Michael is continuing to evolve as an artist,” Seemann said in a statement. “I’m also excited to build on Michael’s legacy and create magic with a new artistic director.”
Bobbitt has juggled multiple responsibilities at Adventure, helping craft the overall vision for the theater and academy’s productions, writing shows, choreographing and directing. He has also spent time working behind the scenes to help increase the theater’s visibility.
Bobbitt said in 12 years, the budget has grown from under $500,000 to $2.8 million, and from 15,000 patrons in 2007 to 45,000 today, although the number can fluctuate.
“When I got to adventure theater it was volunteer-run with a small patron base and a small budget,” he said.
Bobbitt, with a background in musical theater and nonprofit organizational management, said he had more responsibility than an artistic director normally would with the business aspects of the theater because it was growing so fast.
Bobbitt said his proudest accomplishments include producing “Three Little Birds,” a children’s musical featuring Bob Marley songs. The show ended up touring off-Broadway in New York and has been produced across the country.
“That was one of the first things that really helped us to start aggressively diversifying our audiences, and that show got us so much national and international attention. That little gift keeps giving,” he said.
Bobbitt said another memory was producing an adaptation of the 1985 musical “Big River,” which engaged more than 100 members of the African American community.
Bobbitt said he has tried to put an emphasis on multi-racial casting, and that will continue in his new role. But New Repertory, he said, will involve producing more shows for adult audiences.
The artistic director will move to Boston with his partner Steve Miller, who he is engaged to marry. Bobbitt’s 17-year-old son is a senior at Walt Whitman High School and is college-bound.
As for his successor, the board will begin a search next month and Bobbitt said he isn’t sure what role he will play, but will do what he is asked.
“I will offer thoughts, advice and suggestions and whatever they need to find a successor. I also know that it’s important that whoever we bring into this position has the freedom to do what they want to do,” he said.
A Washington, D.C., native, Bobbitt admits he has mixed feelings about moving to a new city.
“My business network and artist network is mostly here. I don’t think I’ll have a hard time building a new network, but it’s scary to move and start someplace new,” he said.
Dan Schere can be reached at Daniel.schere@moco360.media
