Montgomery Theater co-founder Tom Quinn stepping down as Artistic Director

Montgomery Theater co-founder Tom Quinn has announced that he is retiring as artistic director after over 30 years.

Quinn founded the theater with wife Hope deFrenes in 1993 in the old Souderton Firehouse. It was originally located in the building’s lower level before expanding to the entire facility.

The theater offers five annual shows on its 122-seat main stage featuring professional union actors from the Actors Equity Association. Some big names include Ian Lithgow, son of John Lithgow, and Liza Weil, a cast member of “Gilmore Girls,” “Scandal” and “How to Get Away with Murder.” The theater also offers children’s productions, educational programs, comedy nights and more on its 75-seat project stage.

Quinn will be succeeded by Kristin Heckler, who currently serves as managing and associate artistic director.

    The Montgomery Theater’s 122-seat main stage. (Credit: The Montgomery Theater)
  

Humble beginnings

A native of North Wales, Quinn worked as a local performer before embarking on an 11-year stint as a working actor in Los Angeles. After returning to the area, Quinn had a strong desire to open a high-quality, professional theater in Montgomery County.

Upon purchasing the Souderton Firehouse building, Quinn and deFrenes transformed the old banquet hall and senior center into a 70-seat theater. In 2002, the main floor was renovated into a professional 122-seat theater, while the top floor serves as a rehearsal space, dressing room and storage space.

During his time at the theater, Quinn directed over 150 plays, including “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Of Mice and Men,” “The Rocky Horror Show” and “The Glass Menagerie.”

“I can’t say I have a favorite,” said Quinn. “As a career director, I was really more in love with the process and the product.”

But after over 30 years at the theater, Quinn has decided to retire. He said the decision was a long time coming.

“The middle of the word ‘retirement’ is the word ‘tire.’ I’m tired,” Quinn chuckled. “I feel like it’s time to pass the baton to somebody who’s younger and smarter than me.”

    Founded in 1993, the Montgomery Theater in Souderton is located in the old Souderton Firehouse building. (Credit: Souderton Connects)
  

Transition period

The theater is currently undergoing a transition period as Quinn hands over the reins to Heckler.

Heckler, a native of Sellersville, first joined the Theater as a box office manager and production associate. She later moved to New York, where she earned her MFA in theater directing and worked as a producer and freelance director before returning to the Montgomery Theater as assistant director.

“Tom called and asked, ‘Would you come back? If you do, in three years, you can be artistic director,’” said Heckler. “And that was an offer I couldn’t refuse.”

Heckler described feeling “very excited” about her new position, hoping to continue Quinn’s legacy of providing high-quality theater in a non-urban setting.

“I’ve loved theater since I was very young, and a lot of people don’t know about it or think they don’t like it,” said Heckler. “Tom starting Montgomery Theater makes it possible for people in a more rural area to access it easier. That’s the most wonderful gift that he gave to our community.”

    Kristin Heckler, incoming Montgomery Theater Artistic Director, speaks at the May 7 “Toast to Tom” event. (Credit: Kristin Heckler)
  

Return to theater’s roots

As Heckler steps into her new role, she promises a return to the theater’s roots with more edgy, thought-provoking plays, which fell to the wayside after the 2008 recession as the theater became increasingly risk-averse. She cites an upcoming play titled, “The How and The Why.”

“It’s a debate between two scientists about the female reproductive system. It’s a dense play; it challenges ideas about women in science. That’s the type of thing I want sprinkled in,” said Heckler. “We’ll have some crowd pleasers, but I’m also interested in drawing in new communities that are interested in more challenging stuff.”

In addition, Heckler has launched a “New Work” series, in which the theater develops one original musical per year, often written by women and people of color. This year’s musical was bilingual, Heckler noted, a nod to Souderton’s sizable Hispanic population.

“I want to make sure we’re connecting to our whole community through the performing arts,” said Heckler. “We’re continuing to do what we’ve always done but just stretching our audiences a little further.”

Heckler reiterated that the theater helps fill an important void in Montgomery County, creating opportunities for youth actors as well as exposing suburban audiences to different perspectives and experiences. She pointed to the rave reviews of “Hold These Truths,” a play about a Japanese-American man who refused to relocate to the Japanese internment camps during WWII.

“You can learn about other cultures or stories just clicks away on your TV, but it feels different in person,” said Heckler. “There’s something about that human being right in front of you, going through this emotional process that connects you with the story in a way that you can’t through a screen.”

“The epitome of the arts, to me, is when you come away feeling that you really got something out of it,” added Quinn, “You get some new information about life and feel better about yourself.”

    Tom Quinn and Kristin Heckler of the Montgomery Theater pose for a picture. (Credit: Kristin Heckler)
  

‘A phone call away’

Quinn, for his part, will remain on the Board of Directors and continue to collaborate with Heckler, albeit in a much smaller capacity. His wife, deFrenes, will continue serving as Patron Services and Facilities Supervisor.

“My plan is not to be a helicopter parent,” said Quinn. “I would really like to take whatever the biggest backseat is. That’s where I wanna park.”

“I’m always gonna be bugging you about the set,” replied Heckler, adding, “I wouldn’t do something new without Tom’s approval.”

“It’s a passing of the baton,” Tom concluded, “But I’m always a phone call away.”