BHCT Announces New Artistic Director
Black Hills Community Theatre (BHCT) announces that after an extensive search Merlyn Q. Sell will be the organization’s next Artistic Director starting in January, 2023. Sell has been working as BHCT’s Education and Outreach Director the past year and before that as Assistant Education Director. Prior to her work at BHCT Sell has extensive theater experience both as a director and in administrative roles.
BHCT executive director Nick Johnson says “I am excited that Merlyn has decided to take on the new challenge as Artistic Director of BHCT. I think she’s the ideal candidate for the position because she is thoughtful, fair minded and truly knows how to collaborate, which she has proven over and over again in our community. I know that many people in our theater community respect her work and will also be excited that she has taken on the position.”
Sell says "I have loved being a part of Rapid City's theater community and am excited to serve our talented local artists. It has been a life-changing experience to be a part of BHCT's Education department. It has shaped my perspective on theater, and made me realize just how powerful it can be as a tool for transformation - for individuals, groups, and communities. I've learned a lot about collaboration, empathy, and imagination from working with both our veteran and our youngest actors. I hope to bring the many skills they've taught me to the continuing evolution of BHCT."
BHCT board president Peggy Vidal says “We are excited to welcome Merlyn into her new role as Artistic Director for Black Hills Community Theatre. Her extensive experience in all aspects of theater is a real asset for us, and we are looking forward to implementing some of her new ideas as we continue to grow as an organization."-
Sell has a Bachelor of Arts Theatre Arts from Sonoma State University. From 2006 to 2013, Sell worked as a director and playwright in California’s Sonoma County. During that time she co-founded Actor's Basement, a company dedicated to the production of new work and modern interpretations of classics, and acted as their New Works Coordinator until 2013. She also worked with Narrow Way Stage Company, Pegasus Theatre, and the Raven Theatre. In 2007, Santa Rosa Junior College produced her play Circus Acts as part of their regular season. Her production of Romeo & Juliet for Actor’s Basement was named one of the Top Ten Torn Tickets of 2013 by the North Bay Bohemian.
In 2013, Sell moved to Staunton, Virginia where she received both a Master of Fine Arts and a Master of Letters in Shakespeare and Performance from Mary Baldwin College. With her MFA cohort, she was a company member of Sweet Wag Shakespeare. She led their marketing committee, directed a touring production of As You Like It, and performed as Polonius in a school tour of Hamlet. The company also performed her script One Woman Town at the 2015 Blackfriars Conference, and it was later chosen for production by Mary Baldwin University’s undergrad theatre department. Sell worked briefly in the marketing department of the American Shakespeare Center before returning home to the Black Hills in 2016.
In 2017 she completed two commissioned works, Sweet Are the Uses performed by the College of Saint Mary in Omaha, and Tempestuous performed by the Pegasus Theatre in Guerneville, California. She worked as the Marketing Director for Marin Shakespeare Company for their 2018 season, before joining the Performing Arts Center of Rapid City as their Box Office and Communications manager that September. Since being in Rapid City she has directed A Doll’s House: Part Two, and The Wolves for Firehouse Brewing Theatre, as well as numerous productions for BHCT. During the pandemic, she worked remotely for Sweet Tea Shakespeare in Fayetteville, North Carolina in a variety of administrative roles, acted in Zoom productions for Sweet Tea and Brave Spirits Theatre, and was writing producer for the podcast The Horned Moon Presents.
Through nearly all her theater journey Sell has been accompanied by her two cats, Nora & Tallulah.
BHCT executive director Nick Johnson says “I am excited that Merlyn has decided to take on the new challenge as Artistic Director of BHCT. I think she’s the ideal candidate for the position because she is thoughtful, fair minded and truly knows how to collaborate, which she has proven over and over again in our community. I know that many people in our theater community respect her work and will also be excited that she has taken on the position.”
Sell says "I have loved being a part of Rapid City's theater community and am excited to serve our talented local artists. It has been a life-changing experience to be a part of BHCT's Education department. It has shaped my perspective on theater, and made me realize just how powerful it can be as a tool for transformation - for individuals, groups, and communities. I've learned a lot about collaboration, empathy, and imagination from working with both our veteran and our youngest actors. I hope to bring the many skills they've taught me to the continuing evolution of BHCT."
BHCT board president Peggy Vidal says “We are excited to welcome Merlyn into her new role as Artistic Director for Black Hills Community Theatre. Her extensive experience in all aspects of theater is a real asset for us, and we are looking forward to implementing some of her new ideas as we continue to grow as an organization."-
Sell has a Bachelor of Arts Theatre Arts from Sonoma State University. From 2006 to 2013, Sell worked as a director and playwright in California’s Sonoma County. During that time she co-founded Actor's Basement, a company dedicated to the production of new work and modern interpretations of classics, and acted as their New Works Coordinator until 2013. She also worked with Narrow Way Stage Company, Pegasus Theatre, and the Raven Theatre. In 2007, Santa Rosa Junior College produced her play Circus Acts as part of their regular season. Her production of Romeo & Juliet for Actor’s Basement was named one of the Top Ten Torn Tickets of 2013 by the North Bay Bohemian.
In 2013, Sell moved to Staunton, Virginia where she received both a Master of Fine Arts and a Master of Letters in Shakespeare and Performance from Mary Baldwin College. With her MFA cohort, she was a company member of Sweet Wag Shakespeare. She led their marketing committee, directed a touring production of As You Like It, and performed as Polonius in a school tour of Hamlet. The company also performed her script One Woman Town at the 2015 Blackfriars Conference, and it was later chosen for production by Mary Baldwin University’s undergrad theatre department. Sell worked briefly in the marketing department of the American Shakespeare Center before returning home to the Black Hills in 2016.
In 2017 she completed two commissioned works, Sweet Are the Uses performed by the College of Saint Mary in Omaha, and Tempestuous performed by the Pegasus Theatre in Guerneville, California. She worked as the Marketing Director for Marin Shakespeare Company for their 2018 season, before joining the Performing Arts Center of Rapid City as their Box Office and Communications manager that September. Since being in Rapid City she has directed A Doll’s House: Part Two, and The Wolves for Firehouse Brewing Theatre, as well as numerous productions for BHCT. During the pandemic, she worked remotely for Sweet Tea Shakespeare in Fayetteville, North Carolina in a variety of administrative roles, acted in Zoom productions for Sweet Tea and Brave Spirits Theatre, and was writing producer for the podcast The Horned Moon Presents.
Through nearly all her theater journey Sell has been accompanied by her two cats, Nora & Tallulah.