Rick Dines was the first staff member added to the Vandivort Center Theatre, housed at the top of Springfield's historic Vandivort Center. That was in May of 1998, the week after Dines finished college. He’s seen the organization through a name change to Springfield Contemporary Theatre, several location changes and countless productions. Now, it’s time for a break.
Dines will step away from the role of managing artistic director in March, the company announced Feb. 15. Dines has been connected to Springfield Contemporary Theatre in some capacity for 25 years.
“There are statistics out there that somewhere between 40-50% of nonprofit leadership has changed in the last three years,” Dines said by phone Feb. 16. “We all got through COVID, but then the post-COVID has been as tough, if not tougher, in a lot of ways. I’m not alone in that regard.
“I’m really just kind of taking a break to take care of myself. I’m hoping in a few years to return to the theater in some capacity, be that directing or performing or whatever, but I am in need of a break.”
Steering Springfield Contemporary Theatre through many changes
Dines’ title was associate producer when he joined executive producer and founder Lou Schaeffer’s team. He helped shift the Vandivort Center Theatre from a venue open to outside organizations for rental to a full production company producing its own work.
Dines stepped away from the day-to-day staff to pursue a theater career in New York City in 2005, but even then, he would return to Springfield to guest-direct productions and consult on various aspects of the theater.
Dines returned to the staff in 2009, shortly after the for-profit Vandivort Center Theatre had transitioned to a nonprofit production model as Springfield Contemporary Theatre. He helped the organization pivot when the Vandivort Center was redeveloped into Hotel Vandivort in 2012.
Since Dines' return, Springfield Contemporary Theatre has staged productions in the Wilhoit Plaza, SCT’s 2nd Stage on Campbell, the Springfield Art Museum and SCT’s operations center. Along the way, there were special events at Nonna’s Italian Restaurant and Mother’s Brewing Company before SCT took up its residency at the Historic Fox Theatre on Park Central Square.
“I’m really proud of the collaborations we’ve had with other organizations — and continue to have,” Dines said. “We’re currently collaborating with the History Museum in our residency at the Fox. We’ve collaborated with many other organizations in town, be it in regards to venues, be it in regards to productions or special projects and those have all been something I’m very proud of. And we’ve mounted so many productions I feel like that have made impacts on parts of the community.”
Dines to stay on SCT board through transition
Dines’ official last day on staff is March 15, though he said he will stay on SCT’s board of directors until the transition to new leadership is complete.
“My intention at the point is to go off the board so I’m not standing over the shoulder of whoever is trying to do this job next, out of fairness to them,” he said. “It’s an organization for which I will always have a great passion. I spent 25 years building it with Lou. I’m excited to see it live on and see what it does next.”
In a press release, Schaeffer thanked Dines for his dedication “helping steer Springfield Contemporary Theatre into the rich civic organization it has become.”
“We wish him the very best and look forward to the day when we see him back on our area stages performing or directing.”
Leadership change leads to programming change
The change in leadership is causing a change in SCT’s programming for the rest of this season. The organization announced it is canceling it’s production of “Parade” scheduled for June 14-20, which Dines had been scheduled to direct.
“The company will take a break from full production this summer to better structure the organization and do the necessary hiring to launch its 29th season stronger than ever in the fall of 2024,” Schaeffer said. “During the summer, we will be producing a series of special events.”
Details of those events will be announced at a later date.
