FLINT, MICH.: After more than six years of service, Michael Lluberes, the founding producing artistic director of Flint Institute of Music (FIM) Flint Repertory Theatre, is stepping down from his position on Dec. 11. He plans to return to New York to pursue freelance directing and writing opportunities. Managing director Nicole Samsel has been appointed interim artistic director and managing director.
“Founding this professional theatre in the city I love has been the greatest honor of my life,” said Lluberes in a statement. “I’m so proud of the innovative, risk-taking, joyous work we’ve done together over the past six years. Thank you to the amazing staff, board, donors, sponsors, adventurous audiences and all of the incredible artists who call Flint Rep home. I’m leaving the theatre in the more-than-capable hands of managing director Nicole Samsel. I know the theatre will flourish under her stewardship and I’m so excited to see what happens next.”
Known for developing and directing world premieres and bold new takes on the classics, Lluberes has led the theatre to become one of the most innovative and award-winning theatres in the state. Early in his tenure, the theatre changed its name from Flint Youth Theatre to Flint Rep, a move that generated some controversy in the community. Highlights since the rebranding include his conceiving and directing the world premiere of the new LGBTQ+ version of The Fantasticks; Flint Mural Plays, a sweeping project featuring 25 world premiere short audio plays based on murals around the city of Flint; a two-piano version of Ragtime; and most recently the sold-out extended run of Godspell (In a Pool), which broke records for Flint Rep.
Lluberes also created the annual New Works Festival, which has developed more than 30 new plays and musicals. World premieres produced over the last six years include James Anthony Tyler’s Into the Side of a Hill, Karen Saari’s ‘Rain on Fire, Gordon Leary and Julia Meinwald’s The Magnificent Seven, Nandita Shenoy’s The Future Is Female…, Josh Wilder’s Wrong River, Alex Moggride’s The Boatman, Wally Pleasant’s Songs About Stuff, and the TYA musical Riddle of the Trilobites, which transferred Off-Broadway to the New Victory Theatre in New York City.
“We wish Michael the very best—he has many exciting opportunities and creative mountains to climb,” said FIM president and CEO Rodney Lontine in a statement. “I am personally thankful for his help, expertise, and imagination as we envisioned and have grown the Flint Repertory Theatre. I look forward to the next great chapter of the Flint Rep in Nicole’s very qualified hands, as she serves as interim artistic director.”
Founded in 2018, FIM Flint Repertory Theatre is a professional, not-for-profit theatre in the city of Flint and one of the artistic producing programs of FIM. Flint Rep is dedicated to providing the city of Flint and surrounding communities with highly imaginative, thought-provoking theatre that is challenging, entertaining and inspiring for everyone. As of 2023, the Flint Institute of Music had a budget of approximately $14.5 million.
