An Inside Look at GPAC’s Summer Programming!

Emily Hefley started dance classes at the tender age of two — her mother said she was “too wiggly” and needed an outlet for her energy! Growing up, she relished performing and recalls dance recitals at Germantown Performing Arts Center (GPAC) with particular fondness. She later earned her BFA in Theatre and Dance from the University of Memphis and began a journey back to GPAC. As the Center’s Programming Director, Emily sets the performance lineup and spearheads programs that bring a new generation of artists to the GPAC stage. Meet our newest FACE of Memphis, Emily Hefley!

How did a dance career lead you to your job at GPAC?

I freelanced after graduation. I was an adjunct professor at the University of Memphis, teaching dance composition, jazz, and choreography. I worked for what was the Memphis Arts Council, now Arts Memphis, as a teaching artist and for Playhouse on the Square in their conservatory program. I worked at other schools, and I was a nanny.

My original role at GPAC was as a freelance dance teacher. In 2005, I was hired part-time to develop our educational program. I was also managing a small dance company, Project Motion, and continuing to nanny. And I was still performing as a dancer. I don’t know how I managed all that!

What falls under your umbrella as programming director?

The two biggest pieces are booking the artists for the GPAC stage and managing the educational programming for children.

[GPAC Executive Director] Paul Chandler and I work together on the season programming. We divide and conquer. Because my background is in dance, I largely book dance companies, and because I love world and cultural music, I’m usually responsible for those performances. His background is singer-songwriters and Americana, so he takes on those genres. And we work together on jazz. Together we book the season, which involves meeting with agents, negotiating the deals, and navigating technical riders. I take the lead on a lot of the offers and contract negotiations.

I also program the movie series we offer in The Grove. Movies are not my background, but I enjoy them, so that has been fun. We started showing movies during the pandemic, and it went so well that we’ve kept on doing it. Adding concert performances in The Grove has almost doubled what we do at GPAC — again, Paul and I divide and conquer on getting artists for the Concert Series. The Grove was scheduled to open in the spring of 2020, so obviously, we were stalled for a little while. But we slowly opened. The first week, we were allowed a capacity of ten people! When we were allowed to show movies, we could only have 50 people.

My responsibilities include all the children’s educational programs, such as Peanut Butter & Jam, which introduces children ages eight and under to music, dance, and multicultural arts in a very relaxed and fun way. We also offer dance and guitar lessons and host the GPAC Youth Symphony Program, among other programs.

What GPAC initiatives or programs are you most proud of?

The GPAC Dance Program; I was part of it from the beginning. I have such a heart for dance, and I’m so proud the program is based on giving children self-confidence and introducing them to the performing arts.

I am also proud of Peanut Butter & Jam on Tour, which takes music and dance artists to select schools all over the Mid-South. Going into schools is an incredible feeling. It is a lot of work, and there is a lot of red tape, but in the end, it’s worth it.

What excites you most about your job?

I love the curation of experiences and seeing reactions to our shows. I love seeing the excitement in our audience, especially when they are exposed to a new genre or one they thought they didn’t like.

I’m happy I have the platform to put so many diverse artistic voices on stage. We are able to have a very well-balanced season every year.

We also support the artists in our community with our outdoor series in The Grove. I’m proud that we pay them well. I’ve been on the other side, where I was offered the chance to perform for the “exposure.” No. Musicians need to be paid.

And I love seeing the kids run down the hall, full of energy and excitement for a dance class or orchestra. It’s just fun. There is a lot of energy in our space.

What is your biggest challenge?

The biggest challenge has been education — getting the money and staff for the programs. Education was low on the totem pole in prior years, but we’ve bolstered it to be one of our priorities. Staffing is always a challenge. I could use a whole team of people! For a while, it was just me, but now I have an assistant, and she is a huge help.

What have been some of your favorite performances on the GPAC stage?

Sutton Foster! She was so lovely and so talented. I often don’t watch an entire show; I work and move around. I know when I watch a whole show that I really, really like it. I never left during her performance. It was fabulous.

Lisa Fischer is another artist that stands out. I’ll never forget meeting her. I went to shake her hand, and she said, “No. I hug people. We’re gonna hug.” I knew at that moment that the show was going to be incredible — and it was. She blew the roof off! She’s coming back this season.

That leads us nicely to our next question! What programming are you most excited about for the coming season?

I’m very excited about Patti LuPone. We have wanted to book her for so long. She’s probably the biggest act we’ve had since Yo-Yo Ma. She’s huge.

I’m excited about the dance troupe MOMIX. We booked them for the 2020-21 season, which obviously didn’t happen.

Ranky Tanky is a musical ensemble from the Gullah community; I am fascinated by that region. They have such a fun energy. I think people will be surprised by how much they love Ranky Tanky.

Where can we find you on your days off?

I’m a mom of two girls, and they keep me busy. On the weekends, we are out in the community. We love Crosstown, Memphis Botanic Garden, and the Dixon. We try to do one activity a weekend when we can. We started hiking during the pandemic and explored over 20 trails in one year. I’m not a super-outdoorsy person, but hiking is something I can do and enjoy.

What is your best piece of advice?

I often give this advice to others in a creative field: It’s ok to say “no.” Many performing artists feel the need to be involved in a bunch of different projects all at once. I’ve been there; it’s hard to turn a project down. But it’s ok to protect your time and focus on one project.

Aside from faith, family, and friends, what are three things you can’t live without?

Sunshine, coffee, and laughter.

Tickets for all GPAC Main Stage performances and Concerts in The Grove are on sale now at the GPAC website.

All photography by Yasmine Omari unless otherwise noted.

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