Long time LST director steps down

    A prominent member and long time leader of the local non-profit organization, Leavenworth Summer Theater, will be absent (at least from the working side of things) this upcoming summer. Susan Hufman has decided to hang up her boots and retire as executive director of the program back in fall of 2018.
    "(I will miss) without a doubt, the people - many more than I can even name. I still meet adults who were von Trapp children on our stage a decade or more ago and it is fascinating to talk about what being on stage meant to them as they grew up. The skill set to work with a multigenerational cast, to speak and perform in front of 500 plus people each night builds skills that reach well beyond theater. What a gift to the next generation,"
    Over the many years, Hufman has rubbed elbows with a majority of the faces and voices that have been heard and seen on the Leavenworth Summer Theater stage. Circa 1996, Hufman had retired from the practice of law as an attorney in neighboring Cashmere and gravitated to the (at the time) two year old Leavenworth Summer Theater.
    "I will be forever grateful to John and Susan Wagner for adding me to the LST family back in 1996," said Hufman. "First as a board member, then as the associate producer and recently as Executive Director, I have enjoyed the evolution of this wonderful nonprofit organization over the years."
    Over the years, Hufman's responsibility within the Leavenworth Summer Theater grew and she gained momentum within the organization and her roles there. She eventually blossomed into the executive director and gracefully took on the challenges that came with the positives.
    "I have enjoyed the challenge of helping a nonprofit organization become sustainable in challenging times. When the mountain passes closed, or the economy declined, when the rights to The Sound of Music were denied and we had to appeal the denial - all of those and more were challenges for Leavenworth Summer Theater, yet we continued to grow," said Hufman.
    Hufman is firm that the challenges never eclipsed the growth the Leavenworth Summer Theater has had over the years, only amplified its success. The organization's contribution to the community were also apparent to Hufman when she had the fortune of seeing its impact reflected on the visitors as well.
    "Thanks to my position, I had the luxury of interacting with a lot of visitors to Leavenworth. Every time I did it was clear what an asset this theater is to the community," said Hufman.
    Her departing words make it clear that despite her moving forward, she isn't leaving behind the Leavenworth Summer Theater. Hufman has strong faith that the Leavenworth Summer Theater will continue to progress and will be around a long time.
    "Leavenworth Summer Theater is built to last and to thrive.  The foundation is strong and LST is an extraordinary nonprofit theater," said Hufman. "That is a credit to the many supporters and board members over the years who have given time, talent and funding.  Their faith in LST has been rewarded."
    Hufman is transitioning into retirement with plans to continue volunteering with various non-profits and to travel alongside her husband. She turned her position over to the current executive director, Phil Lacey.