The Onyx Theatre announces its current artistic director and the producing artistic director of Off-Strip Productions, Sirc Michaels, will be stepping down in his role at the theatre and the production company effective this week. During his tenure, Sirc has lent his considerable talent, experience, and energy to revitalizing the venue, and breathed new life into the in-house production company Off-Strip Productions.
Michaels, who is leaving to run his own production company, recently received nationwide attention as the co-producer and director of the critically acclaimed EVIL DEAD THE MUSICAL, which has seen 2 successful runs at The Onyx Theatre.
"There are many shows in the works that may or may not see the stage," said Michaels. "It's a shame, as I was hoping to see the theatre expand even further in its efforts to bring in new works and new talent. Unfortunately the owners of The Onyx Theatre felt I wasn't taking the theatre in the direction it needed to go. I don't agree, but I hope for the sake of the theatre they are right. No one likes to see their hard work come to nothing. This does, of course, free me up to focus more on my own endeavors here in the city. I am grateful for the opportunity I've had at the theatre, and I hope it succeeds."
In spite of the commercial and critical success of the theatre under Michaels 's direction, Randy Lange and Michael Morse, the owners of The Onyx Theatre, have decided to move in another direction for the venue's shows and to bring in new management.
"We are sad to see him go," said Michael Morse, owner of The Onyx Theatre. "If it wasn't for Sirc there's a good chance the theatre would not currently be open. But now that he's helped us through the hard times we want to move on to projects we think are better for our community and more closely represent the edgy, exciting, alternative material our audiences have come to expect from us in the past - shows like Naked Boys Singing, Miss Coco Peru, and Silence of the Clams."