The Board of Directors of the Great River Shakespeare Festival announced on February 20, 2013 that it has accepted the resignation of Eric Bunge, its current Managing Director, effective this week. Bunge, who was the founder of the Commonweal Theatre in Lanesboro, MN, has served the Festival since July, 2011.
“Eric has had a major impact on the health and well-being of the Festival,” according to Tedd Morgan, GRSF Board President. “We are grateful for his service to GRSF and wish him well in his new endeavors.” During his time as the Festival’s Managing Director, Bunge established several innovative initiatives, including GRSF’s successful Legacy Bond program and the purchase of a warehouse property on Johnson Street in downtown Winona that is currently used to store GRSF’s stock of costumes, set pieces, and properties.
The GRSF Board announced that Daniel Munson, the Festival’s long-time Director of Production, Rushford resident, and Winona State University graduate will assume duties as Interim Managing Director until a successor is named. A search committee has formed to seek Bunge’s replacement. Paul Barnes, the Festival’s Artistic Director and Doug Scholz-Carlson, Associate Artistic Director, along with other members of the Festival’s year-round staff continue to lead planning for the Festival’s 2013, 10th Anniversary season which begins preview performances of Shakespeare’s King Henry V and Twelfth Night on June 26, 2013. The season runs until August 4.
Eric Bunge (right) with Rob Thomas having fun at the 2012 Callithump!
