Latest news with #Gethsemane
USA Today
a day ago
- Business
- USA Today
Lynch: PGA Tour's new boss has fresh opportunities, but the same old problems need answers
It's probably a testament to Jay Monahan's one-on-one popularity that he managed to remain leader of the PGA Tour for two years and 10 days after announcing the controversial decision that foreshortened his commissionership, but the recent announcement of his successor finally draws to an end the Gethsemane hours of his tenure, when everyone — including Monahan and those closest to him — awaited what they knew was inevitable. The furious player backlash to the June 6, 2023, Framework Agreement with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund wasn't grounded in moral objections to doing business with authoritarians, nor in shock at the about-face Monahan performed to get there. It was the secretive manner in which he went about it, an enormous governance misstep that led to structural reforms that sharply curtailed the executive authority of his office. That altered balance of power is just one of the many challenges awaiting Brian Rolapp, the newly-named CEO of PGA Tour Enterprises and de facto head of the entire organization. Rolapp represents a departure from his predecessors at the top of the Ponte Vedra pyramid, beyond not having the commissioner title quite yet (Monahan will remain in that role through '26). He's an outsider, not a product of the Tour's conclave nor even of the broader golf ecosystem. He's barely a golfer at all, despite his game efforts to disguise that reality. None of those facts are inherently negative. While there was no doubt who Rolapp worked for in his last job at the NFL — team owners — the PGA Tour's constituencies are more complex. There's one that wants to be owners (fans), one that thinks they're owners (players), and one that are actually owners (Strategic Sports Group, which invested $1.5 billion). Rolapp's credentials, management style and innovative thinking have been widely praised, and he'll need them to navigate his many stakeholders, who are not always aligned. For example, every entity with whom the PGA Tour partners — sponsors, broadcasters, tournaments — focuses on the same end user of its services: fans. But headquarters sees the end users of its services as the players, and that's who is always prioritized. Rolapp seems conscious of the need to bridge that divide. 'What has attracted me about this opportunity is that it's unique in sports in that the players own the Tour. It's their Tour. They are the shareholders. They are the owners, so I certainly work for them,' he said. 'Having said that, and we talked a little bit about this in our player meeting, I think they know what's good for fans is also good for the Tour. "It's not that complicated. If you think what's best for the fan, it's usually best for everybody involved.' What of the stalled PIF negotiations that came to define the Monahan era? Will that prove uncomplicated too? Yasir Al-Rumayyan has been incommunicado since leaving the White House in a snit on February 20. Even if he (or H.E. to his supplicants) adopts a more conciliatory tone, is there any upside to Rolapp wading into the same quagmire that trapped Monahan? A new leader who inherits a failed negotiation and widespread player apathy about any deal could be more inclined to cut bait and move on. His comments on Tuesday hinted as much. 'When it comes to the situation with LIV, I think that's a complex situation that's probably something I should learn more about before I speak,' he said. 'But I will say my focus is on growing the Tour, making it better, and really moving on from the position of strength that it has.' When pushed on the PIF negotiations, he didn't slam the door, but nor did he sound like a man eager to wait around until Al-Rumayyan's ego is sufficiently stroked. 'Again, I'm not close enough to any of those discussions, but I will say what I saw regardless of that is a very strong Tour. I see a strong product.' It may be that the only avenues for the PGA Tour to work with PIF/LIV involve TGL, the indoor team league in which the Tour is a partner, or an international series staged in concert with the DP World Tour outside of the FedEx Cup season, from September through January. Rolapp expressed enthusiasm about golf's potential for global expansion, but he also doesn't need the Saudis for that. What he does need is buy-in from players and from SSG on spending its investment dollars. 'Where we deploy that capital, I have ideas. It's an investor group that is experienced in sports. They're smart,' he said a few days ago. 'And the player directors are bright and motivated and focused, and that was really great to see. I think what I've seen from the board have been very focused on growing the game, looking out for players, and so it was all positive.' At some point, those stakeholder interests will begin to arc in different directions. Rolapp will never be more powerful than in his first year, and he's been bought valuable breathing space by the tailwinds Monahan leaves behind, like robust TV ratings and a healthy book of sponsor business. But he's still at the mercy of the players, who control votes on the board. Striking a balance between what players are willing to do, what fans are willing to accept, and what SSG is willing to pay for will be a time-consuming task. It's a good thing he's not worried about maintaining an index.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Legendary rock opera 'Jesus Christ Superstar' coming to Renaissance Theatre
The Renaissance Theatre is presenting Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's legendary rock opera, "Jesus Christ Superstar," for a limited engagement the next two weekends. The musical, which has drawn in audiences worldwide for more than 50 years, reimagines the final days of Jesus through the eyes of Judas Iscariot, set to a 1970s rock score. 'Jesus Christ Superstar is an iconic show because it challenges audiences to see 'The greatest story ever told' from a different perspective,' director Ryan Shealy said. 'This production is emotional and deeply human; audiences are in for something truly extraordinary.' This production features a cast led by guest artist Caleb Predeep Mathura as Jesus of Nazareth, as well as Ohio-based talent and three women in the roles of Judas, Mary and Pilate; two of which are traditionally male roles. Shealy shares some of his considerations when making those casting decisions. 'This adaptation asks the audience to understand that there are good and bad in all people, including the usual 'villains.' By casting these characters more diversely, we can see more of ourselves in this story and relate its lessons to today's world," she said. Since its Broadway debut in 1971, "Jesus Christ Superstar" has attracted audiences with its blend of rock and theatrical storytelling. The show features songs such as 'Superstar,' 'I Don't Know How to Love Him' and 'Gethsemane,' performed by a cast that includes: Kelly Knowlton as Judas Iscariot Shauna Marie as Mary Magdalene Samantha Woodill as Pontius Pilate Robert Hardin-Leeth as King Herod Jacob Poiner as Caiaphas Nikki Stitak as Annas Ensemble: Darius Darmody, Carter King, Molly McClanahan, Jackie Metz, Zakari Ramos, Christian Shepherd and Torre Webber About Caleb Predeep Mathura A Trinidadian-American performer, Mathura is a graduate of the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Point Park University with a BFA in musical theatre and a minor in dance. His career includes starring roles in "Come Fall in Love" (The Old Globe), "David" (Off-Broadway) and "Pippin" (The Pittsburgh Playhouse), along with his acclaimed portrayal of Jesus in "Jesus Christ Superstar" at Timberlake Playhouse. Show times are 7:30 p.m. March 8 and March 15 and 2:30 p.m. March 9 and March 16. Tickets start at $15 and are available now at or by calling or visiting the Renaissance Theatre box office at 419-522-2726, 138 Park Avenue West. This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Classic rock opera coming to Renaissance Theatre
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Manchester church to close in May
Jan. 27—A church that has stood in Manchester's North End since the 1880s has been put up for sale and will close this spring, officials announced Sunday. The Church Council of Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church, located at 65 Sagamore St., said "after great thought and prayer" the congregation voted to close the church on May 18. Gethsemane, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), was founded when a group of Swedish immigrant workers from the Amoskeag Mills constructed the church on land donated by the Amoskeag Company, officials said. "It has proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ in that location continuously since its founding," church officials said in a statement. "Services were held in Swedish until the early 1950s, when English became the language used. "In recent years, declining membership, increased expenses and the dispersal of families has led to the decision to close." Services at the church are expected to continue through the winter and spring under the direction of Interim Pastor Don Larsen, with a Service of Celebration for the congregation, community and fellow worshipping communities scheduled for May 4. A final service for congregation members will be held May 18. Specific times for both special services have yet to be announced. "The real estate of the congregation has been listed for sale, and closure is being coordinated with the New England Synod of the ELCA," church officials said. According to Manchester's online property valuations available through the city website, the church and associated land at 65 Sagamore St. were valued at $1,468,500 as of 2022. According to the church's website, Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 1882 in response to an "enormous influx of Swedish immigrants" working in local mills. Early on services were held in "The Mission Chapel" on the corner of Beech and Merrimack streets, but as membership grew it was decided in 1885 to construct a new building to house the church on land donated by Amoskeag Mills. The central part of the church includes some 20 stained-glass windows created in the 1940s by Whittemore Associates, Boston depicting the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. In 2008, Gethsemane received permission from the city to occupy a new addition to the Sagamore Street church of 3,596 square feet and renovate another 4,289 square feet, including bathrooms, classrooms and offices.
