Joshua Steele looks younger than he is, but that hasn’t slowed him down a bit. While he was still an undergraduate studying vocal performance at Ohio State, the Sycamore High grad co-founded New Stage Collective, now one of the city’s coolest young theater companies. But that wasn’t cool enough: He want ed a career as an arts administrator, so he entered the respected program at UC’s College-Conservatory of Music (and simultaneously managed a well-established arts organization, the Vocal Arts Ensemble).
With his two UC master’s degrees in 2007, he quickly landed a job as the theater and facilities manager at the Carnegie Visual Performing Arts Center, where he’s organizing and promoting more than 120 events annually, including a chamber music series and an array of theater productions. He’s the definition of a contemporary impresario.
Q: What’s the coolest thing about you?
Steele: Every day, I get to work with extraordinarily talented artists and put them in a position to create moving, heartwarming, shocking, hilarious and profound performances. Then they thank me for the opportunity. It doesn’t get cooler than that.
Q: What is cool about The Carnegie?
Steele: In addition to housing one of our region’s most exceptional small theaters, The Carnegie offers the area’s widest variety of arts experiences. From gallery exhibitions like the upcoming Bold, Beautiful, and Bizarre to the intimate “Carnegie in Concert” music series to our December co-production of Jesus Christ Superstar, The Carnegie offers something for everyone in a casual and welcoming environment.
Q: Who’s the coolest person you know?
Steele: When I think cool, I think writer, marketer, impresario and interpretive dancer Jeff Syroney. Aside from his “real” job as a specialist with an international market research firm, he’s an extremely accomplished nonprofit manager as well as a current trustee of Enjoy the Arts and Know Theatre. When he’s not saving the world from itself, Jeff enjoys a strong drink and makes excel lent company.
THE CARNEGIE VISUAL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER is located at 1028 Scott Blvd., Covington, 859-491-2030.
PHOTO: GRAHAM LIENHART
