Heralded
as “one of the great statesmen of the American arts,” J. Alexander
Speer, better known to everyone as Sandy, led the nation’s most
consistently innovative theatre company during his 40-year career at Actors
Theatre of Louisville. The recently retired Executive Director is also one of
the key architects of the regional professional theatre movement and a highly
respected community leader.
At the helm at Actors Theatre, Speer led the
organization from its original home in a converted railway station and
spearheaded downtown revitalization in Louisville by its move to the historic
bank building on Main Street. He not only supervised administrative operations
and facilities management, he also played a leadership role in four major
capital fundraising campaigns. The first was in 1972 to raise $1.7 million to
facilitate the move to the old Bank of Louisville building that houses the
637-seat Pamela Brown Auditorium and the 159-seat Victor Jory Theatre, as well
as production support facilities and offices. In 1981, $3.4 million was raised
to purchase the Bensinger Arts and Commerce Building to provide additional
office and rehearsal space. The 1994 campaign made a $9.5 million expansion and
renovation possible that included the 318-seat Bingham Theatre, expanded
lobbies, rest rooms, box office and parking garage. And in 2004, a $12 million
campaign raised funds for capital and artistic improvements as well as an
increased endowment fund. Once funds were raised, Speer also had oversight of
the renovation and construction for these projects. Sandy Speer’s forty
years of dedication, commitment to excellence and administrative talents have
helped bring Actors Theatre to regional, national and international acclaim. As
a tribute on the occasion of his retirement, Actors Theatre of Louisville,
renamed their office building the Alexander Speer Arts and Commerce Building
and has established the Alexander Speer Fund for the Advancement of Arts
Administration to honor his vision for making theatre an indispensable part
modern city life.
Nationally, Sandy Speer was a major force in
establishing the League of Resident Theatres, which represents the interests of
76 non-profit professional theatres. He led change in arts management
nationwide through his involvement with Theatre Advisory Council of the
National Corporate Theatre Fund and the American Theatre Exchange Initiative.
Speer has taught theatre management at leading universities and served as a
consultant to theatres around the country. He has also served as a grant review
panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts, the North Carolina Arts
Council and the Kentucky Arts Council.
In Kentucky, he is a highly
respected community leader, who was instrumental in the Louisville Main Street
revitalization of the ‘70s and his contributions continue to shape
today’s vibrant downtown Louisville. His leadership as co-chairman of the
Louisville Arts and Cultural Attractions Council, membership on the boards of
the Louisville Central Area and Main Street Association, the Downtown
Development Corporation, the Preservation Alliance and as executive committee
member of the regional Cultural Blueprint for the Louisville metropolitan area
have benefited the region in many ways.
Sandy Speer has left a legacy of
economic development fostered by the arts, tourism growth enhanced by the arts,
a thriving environment for arts and cultural life and a lasting arts
institution for the people of Kentucky, and indeed the nation.
Previous recipients: Governor Julian Carroll, Moritz Bomhard, Jon Jory, James Still, Wendell Cherry, Harriet Simpson-Arnow, Jean Ritchie, Anna L. Huddleston, Barry Bingham, Sr., Wendell E. Berry, Robert Penn Warren, Jesse Stuart, Harlowe Dean, Rude Osolnik, Lucille Little, Sherry Jelsma, Homer Ledford, Marilyn Moosnick, Alun Jones, Robert Bruce French, Roy P. Peterson, Crit Luallen, Donna S. Hall, Bill & Josephine D'Amato Richardson, David A. Jones and Glema Mahr.