Dear Mainstage Center for the Arts Friends and Community,

As I sit down to write this letter, my heart is filled with so many emotions. After 35 years as the Founder and Artistic Director of Mainstage Center for the Arts, I feel the time has come to step down from my current position, but not out. As of July 1, 2023, I will resign as Artistic Director.

Mainstage has been such an important part of my life for so long. I am confident that the organization is in good hands with the dedicated Board of Directors and the new Administration that we have in place. I look forward to remaining active in Mainstage Center for the Arts by assuming the part-time position of Associate Artistic Director.

As I reflect on my time at Mainstage, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for all that we have accomplished together. When I founded this organization in 1989, I envisioned bringing the transformative power of the performing arts to children and families in our community. Over the years, we have grown and evolved, producing countless performances, offering educational programs, and providing opportunities for children to explore their creativity and develop their skills.

I am proud of all we have achieved together, especially with the contributions, heart, and soul of my lifelong friend and co-founder, Joe Bretschneider. I want to express my deep appreciation and love to my wife, Nancy, and my three daughters, who have spent all of their lives with Mainstage as a part of the fabric of our family. Also, to Harry and Dottie Dietzler and my life-long friends from Upper Darby Summer Stage, Anne Marie and Tom Weaver, Cheri Howlett, the late Vince Gentless, and the late Michael Schreiner, for all they have done to support me and Mainstage Center for the Arts since its founding.

I am also grateful for the friendships and partnerships I have formed over the years. The support, dedication, and passion for the arts from Mainstage staff and Alumni have been a constant source of inspiration for me. Most especially, the support and confidence entrusted to me by the Township of Gloucester and Gloucester Township Schools. Together, we have faced challenges, celebrated successes, and worked tirelessly to make Mainstage Center for the Arts the incredible organization it is today.

I look forward to watching Mainstage continue to serve the children of our community and to seeing all that will be achieved in the years ahead.

In closing, I want to say that it has been an honor and a privilege to serve as the Founder and Artistic Director of Mainstage Center for the Arts for the past 35 years. I will always cherish the memories and experiences that we have shared, and I will remain a dedicated supporter of this incredible organization for many years to come.

With deepest gratitude and warmest regards,

Ed Fiscella
Producing Artistic Director/Founder
Mainstage Center for the Arts