Last week, a farewell reception was held for Kristi McKay, manager of the Performing Arts Center. McKay was offered the position of director of administration for Solving Kids’ Cancer, a not-for-profit charity organization located in New York City.
“Solving Kids’ Cancer was founded in 2007 by two fathers whose toddlers were dying,” McKay said. “They were frustrated with the lack of treatment options at places like Sloan-Kettering.
“They focus on the three deadliest pediatric cancers,” said McKay, ”and try to find new clinical trials and solutions.”
McKay had volunteered for Solving Kids’ Cancer over the past couple of years and was only recently asked to overlook the administrative side of the organization. The aforementioned cocktail reception was “an opportunity for me to spend a few minutes with people I’ve known for the last 22 years,” McKay said.
After working as a freelance costume designer, McKay started off at Le Moyne College in 1989 as a staff assistant to Bill Morris (former director of Visual and Performing Arts) and Karel Blakeley (director of Theatre). At that time, there was only a theater concentration and the W. Carroll Coyne Center for the Performing Arts didn’t even exist. Students interested in theater put on shows in the nearby Firehouse Theater. Around the time the Performing Arts Center was built (1997-1999), McKay became facility coordinator and eventually took on the role of manager in 2005.
“[The PAC has given me] room to grow professionally and hone my administrative skills,” McKay said. “I’ve now been challenged to put that into practice in an environment I’m not too familiar with. But I’m excited about the challenge. I think I can help the organization grow and develop.”
Though many are sad to see her go, McKay insists she won’t leave Le Moyne or the theater for good. McKay, who points out that she’ll “always be a Dolphin,” plans on returning for events such as future productions. She is also co-producing “Evolution,” an upcoming off-Broadway show.
“‘Evolution’ is a one-woman show by Patricia Buckley that I’ve produced with her three times before,” McKay said. “It’s a dysfunctional family story told from the viewpoint of the evolution of whales. We have backing and interest and we plan to open the show on April 26 on 59 E. 59th St.
“I’m so excited about this, but it’s also a little terrifying,” said McKay. “There’s a lot to do. Some days, I’ll think, ‘oh, that’s not too hard; I can do that.’ Other days, I’ll suddenly realize, ‘oh, I’m supposed to be doing that!’ It’s fortunate to know decades’ worth of generous and helpful Le Moyne alumni in the NYC area. I can’t totally leave theater. It’s in my blood!”
When all is said and done, McKay will never forget her experiences as a member of the Le Moyne community and, in particular, the Performing Arts Center.
“What’s made me thrive is that I benefited from and had the delight in watching teenagers come in as freshmen and emerge as young adults,” McKay said. “I’m deeply honored to be a part of that development in a campus environment.”
“At the same time, an environment like this constantly feeds itself,” McKay said. “It’s hard to say goodbye, but there will always be a new class.”
As she leaves for her new job, McKay wishes nothing but the best for her former “family.”
“A colleague, via email, recently told me that this is not the end of my relationship with Le Moyne, but the beginning of a newly defined one,” said McKay. “When I first started, I never thought I’d be in a job for 22 years. There’s something magical about the Le Moyne community; I don’t know if it exists anywhere else.”
“I’ve had so much encouragement and support here,” McKay said. “Everyone has believed in me and I’m so thankful for that.”
