What does it mean to be a professional? One definition is that you’re paid for what you do. Like most community theaters, the Flagler Playhouse doesn’t pay its actors and gives only a small stipend to the directors. But new artistic director Paul Prece, of Ormond Beach, likes to think of it as an approach.
“You always work professionally,” he said. “You do what you do based on the practices of the professional theater.”
Prece, who retired from the university life in 2017 so that he could live near the beach, didn’t intend for his retirement to be a “step into my casket.” He answered an ad when the playhouse was looking for its next director, and he was quickly brought in by the Board of Directors, which was impressed by his 30 years of experience in all levels and roles of theater.