This summer, the Springer Opera House made a few changes.

Artistic director Paul Pierce says two new positions have been added, and there’s a staff shuffle as well.

First Danielle Patterson moves out of the box office into the new job as director of audience development.

“Danielle will concentrate on new audiences,” Pierce said. “She’ll be all over the map.”

Patterson will be leading group sales, visiting with the new folks out at Fort Benning and going after regional audiences.

In a marketing survey done after the Columbus Challenge in 2002, Pierce learned people from Atlanta, Birmingham and Montgomery made regular trips to Columbus to see shows at the Springer. Patterson will be reaching out to people in those cities as well.

“They come for the unique experience of coming to the Springer to see a show,” Pierce said.

The Springer even has subscribers from those cities, and he wants more.

“Danielle wakes up every day where she thinks of getting more people,” Pierce said.

She’ll also reach out to civic organizations and other clubs.

The Springer offers group sales for 15 or more people, but some clubs have fewer than 15 members. Patterson will try to work with those clubs as well.

The Springer is also developing the facility rental program and motor coach business. Patterson will be working with the Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau on those projects.

“We have had so many weddings and receptions that now we’re in the wedding business,” Pierce said. In fact, he’s been ordained online to perform wedding ceremonies. I’ve been to one of the weddings he performed and he did a great job.

To make room on the calendar for these weddings, Pierce is “tightening up our load-in schedules.” That means the shop will have one less week to get a set built and set up.

“This economy forces us to be more agile in our way of thinking,” he said. “It is a unique wedding.”

There have also been inquiries from groups and dance companies who want to rent space in the new Academy classrooms.

He and Patterson are trying to figure out how to work all of that out. “During the day and most week nights, we have the space available,” Pierce said. “We can generate a little revenue as well.”

The other new position is director of corporate training in the Springer Institute. Jef Holbrook takes over that position.

“This is a brand-new thing,” Pierce said. “We’ve had the parents of the Academy students coming to us, asking ‘Can you do for my company what you’ve done for my children?’ We use the very same curriculum. Instead of ‘Life Skills Through Stage Skills,’ it’s ‘Business Skills Through Stage Skills.’”

Holbrook has done a couple workshops for Aflac and Leadership Columbus.

“What Jef is going to do is formalize the program and market it all over the country,” Pierce said. “We now have the ability to bring groups here or put trainers on airplanes and send them everywhere.”

With the Columbus State University Cunningham Center, the Jim Blanchard program, CVB and the Springer, Pierce hopes Columbus can become a destination for business leadership.

Staff shuffle

Becky Macy is taking Patterson’s place as box office manager. She came to the Springer as an actor and dancer and has appeared on space several times.

Kristen Metcalfe will be in the “Honky Tonk Angels” tour and will not be in box office this season.

Lauren Moya is the new community outreach director. As such, she’s the volunteer coordinator and will “cast a wider net” in the area to get more people involved in the Springer, Pierce said.

And, finally, Johanna Cabatingan, who was in the first Academy class, becomes the Academy administrator.

What’s coming up?

The annual clean-up of the Springer, “Sparkle the Springer,” is 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.

The Open House is 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 11-12. That’s when guests can buy single tickets and choose seat locations.

The State Theater Dinner is Aug. 13. It starts at 6 p.m. and costs $175 a person. Call director of development Cameron Bean at 706-256-0942, for more information.

The Block Party is 6-10 p.m. Aug. 12. Come dressed for a “Blues Brothers” party. Call Moya at 706-256-3490.

“Jaws” will be screened at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 26. Tickets are $10.

Call 706-327-3688.