ABT LOSES CONTROVERSIAL DIRECTOR, SEEKS CONSENSUS.

American Ballet Theatre is looking for a peacemaker. At the end of July, Louis G. Spisto, the company's controversial executive director, suddenly resigned. Now, as the search for a new director begins, many hope Spisto's replacement will be able to heal rifts within company ranks and administration.

Spisto's tenure was plagued with complaints about his management, including a sex- and age-discrimination claim filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by an ex-staff member. The problems led three board members to resign in late July. The director announced his departure shortly after.

Spisto, who started his $259,000-per-year position with the ballet two years ago, has a background in orchestra management. The job with ABT was his first in the dance world. But ballet officials, who point to Spisto's successes, say lack of experience wasn't a problem. During his tenure, ticket sales increased by about 8 percent, bringing in $9.8 million in 2001, and contributions grew about 4 percent, totaling $13.2 million this year. Touring income increased, and several new educational programs were launched.

At the same time, however, the company experienced massive turnover--thirty out of forty staff members resigned during the last two years. And concerns were raised over rising administrative expenses coupled with a decline in money spent on productions.

The latter point made it onto a three-page memo of concerns that board member Lewis P. Geyser submitted to his fellow members in late July. Geyser was also angered by the choice of guest conductor Jonathan Sheffer for ABT's recent production of La Bayadere--a difficult ballet, keyed closely to the music, that ABT is known for doing well. Geyser believes Sheffer's mediocre conducting made for an unpolished performance.

But not all agree that ABT's recent La Bayadere was such an embarrassment, and the ballet says the concerns over administrative and production costs are misplaced. "Administration expenses at ABT have grown year to year, as would be expected," says Greg Patterson, ABT's director of marketing and communications. And he adds that differences in production expenses don't say anything about quality of management. Such costs fluctuate. "It's cheaper to produce certain ballets than it is to produce others," Patterson says. "In fact, next year's production costs are expected to be even lower than last year's."

Still, the hemorrhaging of staff and departures of board members are hard to overlook. Geyser never stepped down, feeling that he could be more effective at bringing about change if he stayed. But three out of the board's total complement of fifty-five did leave. Audre Mendel, who danced in the Ballet's corps and has been a board member for twenty years, stepped down along with Gedalio Grinberg and Nancy Ellison. After Spisto left (because of "a growing difference in vision from certain members of the board of directors," according to the press office), all three board members were asked to return. At press time, both Mendel and Grinberg had agreed, and it looked likely that Grinberg would be the next board chairman. "The goal now is to put the family back together and not talk about the past," said Grinberg. "We may disagree about some things. But we all love the ballet."

Geyser was also looking to the future with guarded optimism and thought if anyone could bring peace on the board, Grinberg could. "I hope that he'll become chairman. If so, he'll put this together, and it'll be great for ABT," said Geyser.

At press time, Ballet officials said an interim director would be appointed while a search was launched for Spisto's replacement. Spisto was to remain on staff to tie up loose ends but won't direct in the interim. Ginsberg said the search committee will include the board members and Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie.