Molly Watson remembers staying in the old Forrer Hall and how she loved dancing in the Mitchell Fine Arts Center back in summer 2010 when she attended the Governor’s School for the Arts at Transylvania University.
Now she’s the new assistant technical director of Mitchell Fine Arts, which is a growing venue for not only student shows but also for amateur and professional groups from the local community and beyond.
Watson’s duties include assisting Production Coordinator Graham Posner with setting up and breaking down for events, helping coordinate logistics, managing student workers and teaching them how to work lighting and sound equipment.
She already knows a lot of the ins and outs of the venue’s operations from her own youth dance team, Gotta Dance Studio, competing there. “The facilities here at MFA are perfect for hosting those kinds of events,” Watson said, noting its central location in Lexington. “This is such a great place to see a show.”
Watson, who’s been enthusiastic about dance since age 3, earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Northern Kentucky University and Masters of Library Science from the University of Kentucky.
After graduation, she performed as a costumed character at theme parks in Orlando, Florida, and worked for a “Sesame Street” USO show for children on military installations. She got good experience touring the U.S. and Europe — not only performing on stage but also instructing and rallying troops to help out with tasks like setup.
Watson’s talents extend well beyond dance; for instance, she performs with groups like Central Kentucky Improv. “I’ve dabbled in a lot of things,” she said.
That will come in handy considering the array of events hosted at MFA — from choir performances to the Studio 300 Digital Art and Music Festival to the annual Kenan Lecture, which has drawn notables like Kurt Vonnegut and Beverly Sills. (Stay tuned for the 2024-25 season performing arts announcement in early July.)
“It’s a really flexible space that can be used for all kinds of different things,” Watson said.