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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; &#8220;Ladies and gentlemen, Will Beekman.&#8221;</p><p>Imagine announcing that from center stage at the F.M. Kirby Center just to hear how it sounds. Maybe Beekman&#8217;s even done it in an empty theater.</p><p>Probably not. The executive director of the hall has been busy booking shows and checking ticket sales, morning and night, since taking the top job a little more than a year ago. He&#8217;s been in the house since 2010 and was named managing director three years later.</p><p>Although he&#8217;s in charge, Beekman credited his staff with making sure the curtain goes up, the lights go down and there are patrons in the seats for each show. The hard work has paid off too with Kirby cracking the top-200 list of Pollstar magazine&#8217;s annual ranking of theaters. It placed 114th based on 2015 ticket sales.</p><p>The achievement might persuade Beekman to sneak out on stage and say &#8212; &#8220;Ladies and gentlemen, Will Beekman.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Where did you go to college?</strong> Penn State University</p><p><strong>What was your major?</strong> I received a B.A. in both English (2000) and Journalism (2002)</p><p><strong>What was your first job out of college?</strong> Communications Manager for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins</p><p><strong>What has been the best advice you received in business?</strong> There are no bad shows, only bad deals.</p><p><strong>If your business had a limitless budget, what would be three things you would do differently?</strong> I would add more seats, hire more people and book more shows.</p><p><strong>What are our area&#8217;s biggest strengths and weaknesses?</strong> I feel the area&#8217;s biggest weakness lies in its perception and its biggest strength can be found in its reality. It&#8217;s truly a great place to work, play and raise a family. I enjoy doing all three of those things in this region.</p><p><strong>Where did you grow up?</strong> I grew up in Tobyhanna and lived there until I left for college.</p><p><strong>Tell us about your family.</strong> I&#8217;m the luckiest guy in the world! I have an amazing wife, Katie, a 2-year-old daughter, Hannah, and a 2-month old daughter, Allie. Throw in a 4-year-old Samoyed, Maya, and every morning is a circus. I wouldn&#8217;t change a thing.</p><p><strong>What&#8217;s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?</strong> I kiss my girls good morning (and check our latest ticket sales report).</p><p><strong>What&#8217;s the last thing you do at night before you fall asleep?</strong> I kiss my girls goodnight (and check our latest ticket sales report).</p><p><strong>Where&#8217;s your favorite place to go on vacation?</strong> Hawaii</p><p><strong>What&#8217;s your favorite restaurant and/or meal?</strong> Give me a steak and a beer and I&#8217;m a happy man.</p><p><strong>What&#8217;s your biggest fear?</strong> Never seeing my girls again. I never cared much about myself until seeing how much they care about me.</p><p><strong>What do you want to do when you retire?</strong> Travel more. Sleep more. Check fewer ticket sales reports.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Will Beekman, executive director of the F. M. Kirby Center, is the first in line to make sure the shows go on. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL010816behindthebusiness1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Will Beekman, executive director of the F. M. Kirby Center, is the first in line to make sure the shows go on. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL010816behindthebusiness2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Executive director of the F.M. Kirby Center Will Beekman knows the ins and outs of the business and, with his staff, has brought performers and patrons to the downtown theater. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL010816behindthebusiness2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Executive director of the F.M. Kirby Center Will Beekman knows the ins and outs of the business and, with his staff, has brought performers and patrons to the downtown theater. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Keeping the Kirby successful</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jerry Lynott</p><p>jlynott@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p>Getting to know Will Beekman</p><p>Age: 37</p><p>Title: Executive Director</p><p>Business: F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts</p><p>Location: Wilkes-Barre</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Behind the Business: Getting to know Will Beekman, executive director of the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts in Wilkes-Barre