web1_TTL122918Museum_3.jpg

Brooks raises preservation concerns about hotel project

web1_Gavel.jpg

Weatherly man sentenced for molesting child

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; When the news broke Wednesday that Will Beekman was leaving the F.M. Kirby Center to take the general manager&#8217;s position at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, the buzz started with people wondering what will happen to the bright lights on the Kirby&#8217;s marquee on Public Square.</p><p>On Thursday, Beekman took time to talk about his new job and his old place of employment. When the conversation ended, Beekman was convincing in assuring all those concerned that there will be great things happening at both venues in the coming years.</p><p>Regarding the Kirby Center, Beekman said he leaves the &#8220;jewel of downtown Wilkes-Barre&#8221; in very capable hands.</p><p>&#8220;The Kirby Center truly is the jewel of downtown Wilkes-Barre,&#8221; Beekman said. &#8220;And I feel so blessed to say that I spent more than nine years of my life working there. The venue, the patrons, the community partners, the board of directors and the staff have all become a huge part of my life, and I will always carry them with me.&#8221;</p><p>Beekman said the Kirby Center and the Arena are complementary venues with complementary spaces.</p><p>&#8220;There is no competition between us,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We will work together to bring great acts into this community. Brian Sipe and I spoke on an almost-daily basis, and those lines of communications will remain open.&#8221;</p><p>Regarding the Kirby Center, Beekman said he knows the facility is in &#8220;great and capable hands.&#8221;</p><p>Beekman added, &#8220;As a group, we have built a culture and a business model that is working, and with the staff they have in place, I have no doubt that the organization will continue its ascent.&#8221;</p><p>On Wednesday, the Kirby announced three staff promotions.</p><p>&#8226; Lauren Pluskey McLain has been named managing director and will assume all administrative oversight for the organization.</p><p>&#8226; Anne Rodella has been promoted to artistic director. In her new role, Anne will guide the theater&#8217;s overall artistic vision. Rodella, who has worked for the Kirby Center for more than 19 years, was most recently serving as the venue&#8217;s director of sales and marketing.</p><p>&#8226; Joell Yarmel will become director of development.</p><p>Larry Newman, executive director at the Diamond City Partnership, stewards of the downtown, said he is certain the Kirby will remain a vibrant part of the downtown. Newman also said keeping Beekman in the community is a win-win for the Arena and the Kirby.</p><p>&#8220;From my perspective, Will has been an incredibly valued partner in our downtown revitalization efforts,&#8221; Newman said. &#8220;While I know I am going to miss not having him across Public Square, I am very glad that he is going to be staying in the greater Wilkes-Barre market.&#8221;</p><p>Newman said he has witnessed the collaboration between the Kirby Center and the Arena when Brian Sipe was here.</p><p>&#8220;I know that collaboration is going to continue,&#8221; Newman said. &#8220;I also know that the community is very fortunate to have two complimentary venues like the Kirby Center and the Arena because it allows us to be able to attract acts for all sizes of audience.&#8221;</p><p>Newman went on to say that he is &#8220;really excited&#8217; about the next stage of the collaboration between the Kirby and the Arena now that Beekman has taken the Arena job.</p><p>&#8220;And I couldn&#8217;t be more pleased that I&#8217;m going to have the opportunity to work with Anne and Lauren and the rest of the Kirby team moving forward,&#8221; Newman said. &#8220;They are the very best at what they do.&#8221;</p><p>Regarding his new job, Beekman said he can&#8217;t wait to get started.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m excited to get to work,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Obviously, there will be some differences between the two jobs, but there are also many similarities. I have a pre-existing relationship with most of the people on staff, and I would put them up against any other staff in any other venue in this country. They are going to make my life easy, and I want to come in and do the same for them.&#8221;</p><p>Beekman said Sipe left things in great shape, and he looks forward to carrying the ball and taking the venue to even greater heights.</p><p>&#8220;Relationships are key in this business, and I have built some strong partnerships with agents and promoters across the country over the past decade,&#8221; Beekman said. &#8220;I look forward to bringing those relationships into my new position, while also benefiting from the relationships that the arena has forged over the past 20 years.&#8221;</p><p>Beekman said he considers himself to be &#8220;pretty aggressive&#8221; when it comes to booking venues.</p><p>On a personal level, Beekman said he is thankful for the opportunity SMG has given him at the Arena.</p><p>&#8220;It allows me to grow my career while staying in this market,&#8221; Beekman said. &#8220;This is a special area, and venues like the F.M. Kirby Center and Mohegan Sun Arena are huge reasons why my family and I l love living here.&#8220;</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_TTL32616BestMusicVenue2.CMYK_.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Will Beekman, former executive director of the FM Kirby center, sits on the venue&#8217;s stage during a 2016 interview. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_TTL32616BestMusicVenue2.CMYK_.jpg</photo0><caption0>Will Beekman, former executive director of the FM Kirby center, sits on the venue&#8217;s stage during a 2016 interview. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader file photo </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Beekman: Kirby lights will continue to shine