ANNOUNCING THE WOMAN OF THE MONTH

Meet March’s Fort Worth Woman! Lindsey Rushen’s story unfolds as a tapestry of artistic passion and leadership. While her journey begins in Oklahoma, it brings her now to the bustling stages of Casa Mañana with a narrative of resilience, innovation, and unwavering dedication. This month’s spotlight shines on a woman whose early life, immersed in the arts and nurtured by a family deeply rooted in creativity, set the stage for a remarkable career that intertwines the realms of music, theater, and community engagement.

Bartlesville, Oklahoma laid the foundation for Lindsey’s artistic endeavors. Encouraged by a family that prized both sports and the arts, Lindsey’s childhood resonated with the melodies of ballet, piano, and flute alongside the rhythmic stitches of sewing, taught by a grandmother who saw the beauty in fabric and design. Her adolescence was a ballet of activities, from dance and music to sports, each step guided by a deep-seated love for the arts and early inclination towards creativity. Lindsey describes, “My parents encouraged sports and the arts – I was kind of hit from all directions. I started ballet at the age of five and by the time I was in high school, I was dancing five to six days a week with Bartlesville Civic Ballet. We had a piano, so I took piano lessons. Like many middle schoolers, I tried band in the 5th grade. I think from the first time they put a flute to my mouth I was hooked. I’m 5’11 so of course I can answer that I payed basketball. While I did not get the visual art gene, my creative influence came from my grandmother who taught me how to sew on one of those old white and red Singer machines when I was 5. Tall sizes didn’t exist in the 80s and early 90s so I sewed a lot of my clothes – even my prom dresses.”

The University of Arkansas marked the next movement in Lindsey’s journey, where she, on scholarship, majored in flute performance, supplemented by ballet, including a dive in to Panhellenic life with Delta Delta Delta. A semester abroad in Leeds, England introduced her to the historical depths of musicology, igniting a passion that would lead her to Florida State University for a Master’s in Historical Musicology. Lindsey provides more detail, “I spent a lot of time traveling but I took a class on the Moguchaya Kuching, or Mighty Five. After studying these Russian composers, I got hit with music history bug. I spent my senior year of undergrad looking for master’s programs in Historical Musicology. I put myself through Graduate School working as a store manager of a Limited Too and this is when I started to realize how much I liked business.” Here Lindsey’s narrative took a pivotal turn towards the business side of the arts, marrying her love for music and performance with a newfound interest in Arts Administration.

Fort Worth’s embrace of Lindsey was as fortuitous as it was transformative. A serendipitous encounter within the elegant aisles of Neiman Marcus led her to her next steps of her career. Lindsey states, “When I moved to Texas I got a job at Neiman Marcus and one day, a woman came into the shop for a gala she had that night. We ended up chatting for a while and she asked for my business card. I didn’t think anything of it until a couple of weeks later when a gentleman called the store looking for me. He told me he worked for a theatre and asked if I’d be interested in talking to him about a job. Now, not being from Fort Worth, I had no idea what Casa Mañana was but I said yes anyway. Well, it turned out it was Wally’s wife that I’d helped in Neiman’s that day and now here I am almost 15 years later.”

This began a tenure that would see her ascend from Company Manager to General Manager. Lindsey played multiple roles before landing where she is now. She describes, “I started out as the Company Manager, which is best described as the cruise ship director for the actors and creative staff that come in for each show. From there I was the School Administrator, then Associate Producer, then Director of Marketing and I even had a short stint in Development. I said yes to something new (even daunting) because all of those experiences are why I’m here today as the General Manager of Casa Mañana.” Each role, whether behind the scenes or sewing buttons or in the spotlight managing productions, contributed to a rich understanding of theater operations and deepened her commitment to the arts.

As someone who understands the many facets of a production, Lindsey knows how similar it is to an orchestra – many moving parts that are joined in unison to create a perfect combination. She states, “Working for a producing theatre is a lot of work. Sometimes we work a lot of hours but there is such satisfaction when you get to opening night and see the audiences’ reactions. There’s not really anything to describe the feeling. Pride doesn’t seem strong enough. It takes everyone – from the accounting department to development and of course, production – to get a show on its feet. Everyone here plays a key role and we get immersed in creativity every day.”

Having already launched Sensory Friendly performances after adapting to ever-shifting pandemic challenges Lindsey has made quite the impact in her particular role in the big dome. She describes “We want theatre to be accessible to as many in our community as possible. We got the right people involved and last season we launched Sensory Friendly performances for our Children’s Theatre productions. During the pandemic, when restaurants couldn’t open, we figured out how to operate in the same health and safety guidelines and still have our popular cabaret shows. We moved the tables and chairs out of the Reid Cabaret Theatre and spread them out on the Main Stage. Those who missed entertainment and wanted to get out had a place to go. We’re always looking at ways to better each our community and reach more of them.”

Beyond Casa Mañana Lindsey extends her influence through teaching as an adjunct faculty member at TCU, engaging in Rotary International, PEO and the Tri Delt alumni chapter – embodying the spirit of integration and solution-oriented leadership that makes her impact on the city.

Lindsey’s love for Fort Worth mirrors her passion for the arts, seeing the city as a vibrant stage for her twin 13-year-old daughters to explore their own creative paths already including an intricate balance of dance, music, and sports. Lindsey describes further, “growing up at Casa Mañana probably influenced them as well- they know all the nooks and crannies of this dome building and get to experience all the behind-the-scenes action. They’re still star struck for every show and I love it. One wants to be on stage and the other just discovered how much she likes working backstage. I love the opportunities Fort Worth offers our youth. From the Science and History Museum to the Zoo to Art programs at The Modern and Kimbell to First Tee we have so many ways to enrich our youth that will, in turn, make them better citizens who want to contribute back to our city when they’re grown.” The culture in this town is focused on the future.

Describing herself as an “Integrator”, Lindsey’s approach to leadership in the arts and business is characterized by collaboration, innovation, and a steadfast resolve to make theatre accessible and engaging for all. She states, “My office is a rotating door with questions like “We want to do this, so how do we make it happen? What do we need to do?” or “So we have a problem…” I either try to use my institutional knowledge to help answer their questions or find those that have better expertise to help.” From payroll to scheduling to communications, Lindsey’s approach is that there are always answers to every problem if you are willing to collaborate and use the skills of the team that surround you. Whether it’s analyzing pricing, marketing, or education the team at Casa Mañana, with Lindsey at the lead, is constantly looking at how to help.

This feature naturally showcases Lindsey’s commitment to inclusivity and community engagement, while also reflecting her vision for a Fort Worth enriched by culture and creativity. Her story is a trail of how visionary leadership can weave a narrative that engages a community as a whole and ignites the creative spark in us all. Her enduring impact on Fort Worth’s cultural landscape is a legacy that will continue to inspire future generations.