As TxEx noted, Julie Zimmerman began throwing Charles Moster under the bus. It was obvious while we were rehearsing "The Dinner Party.' Charles Moster had no chance of success because of the rotten attitudes and financial problems within the theater. Now we may not survive. Thanks to Julie and friends.

One must ask, why did this go down so theatrically dramatic as if it were a show? Based on allegations from both points of views, this is how it should have been handled: Workers believe he is doing his job inadequately, report it to the board, board reviews him, find their believes to be the same, quietly dismiss him, director walks away from it. Clean and cut.
Everyone that's involved is part of the fault, and now the Theatre has been the one truly negatively impacted. I have heard so many say they will not perform, volunteer, attend, or support in anyway, the theatre after this 'situation'. If anyone TRULY had the theatre's interest at heart, (as both sides seem to mention that they did), then they would not have let this happen.

YAY Wanda 123... you hit the nail on the head.

Why is there so much anger at Theatre Victoria?

"Old money, outsiders, closed-minded community. . . " yukka-yukka-yukka.

Although I never participated in a show under Moster's direction, it was my privilege to serve under Scotty Mohan, another "outsider," who took VERY good care of the theater and the volunteers. Nobody complained about the "closed-minded" community then.

Typical Victoria. When the old money crowd has an "outsider" in their sandbox, they say he's rude and well, you know what happens next. Real theater companies don't have the same actors in all their productions. And- a director, giving direction is "rude" in Victoria. This town needs to be turned upside down and re-vamped with fresh blood, just like this poor sap was probably trying to do with "Teatro Victoria". As someone that moved here from a cosmopolitan heaven, Seattle, I question what the hell I was thinking. At least I have tons of corrupt cops to avoid as I navigate Navarro. And the list of assaults and robberies in the advocate grows longer every day with nary a story of a solved crime... God help me.

The Victoria Community Theatre - now called Theatre Victoria has been around since 1977. I doubt the place will shut down now that the Artistic Director is gone. As a season ticket holder for many years, I have to say my husband and I honestly found one of the new Moster ideas/shows - Lone Star Night to be really bad... we left, many people left not just us.... when we read the program we noticed that Mr. Moster and Miss Alice Adams had colobarated/written many any of the segments...hmmmm.. intersting that Moster thought it was okay to have a personal friend write reviews...Now I am not the smartest person in the world, this just doesn't seem right for how can anyone review a show/shows directed by a personal friend?
It seems to me that it may have been better if Moster had not pulled the 'poor me' card - I think he said he was 56 years old... I don't know many 50 year olds who say "they were mean to me, so I am going to tell everyone and call the local paper"- Theatre Victoria started new ideas before Moster came on board - aka their Presenting Series, great theatre education for kids....performers from Broadway - cool stuff... so, I don't think it is fair to say the place was not open to new ideas.
God Bless the man and Miss Alice Adams - hopefully they will move forward and not play the blame game any longer....I for one look forward to seeing quality productions again ---

I know many of the volunteers at the Theatre. These people come from all around the country from diverse backgrounds and are among the most creative and dedicated people I've met. The level of commitment and discipline required to put on a show could not be done by "simple-minded" people.

katasongbird- Back when the theatre was in an old building and a small group of people, it was wonderful. I had three friends and my sister in the shows, some produced and directed and I helped when I could. So yes, I have volunteered.
As far as some deep dark conspiracy theory, it isn't. It is very plain, wrong last name, wrong friends, then you are in the wrong place to live and try to work.

Very well said notamorning person and also well said justamom! It's just extremely sad for this community. God is always fair though.
2 Corinthians 12:10
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Maybe the individuals running the Victoria Theatre need to visit other cities to see how it's done. Yep, you also can't have the same people "acting" - you need more diversity! It gets "stale" after too many repeats with the same people or the same shows.

Loretta states "Mr. Moster was fired not because of some 'conspiracy' or 'resistance to change' but simply because he does not have the abilities to do the job, either artistically or as a financial manager. "

Her comment is actually an admission of the simple mindedness of the Victoria theater group and a validation of the other comments posted prior. You see if Mr. Moster did not have the qualifications to do the job- why was he hired in the first place?

One can infer that either Mr. Moster did have the qualifications to do the job and some group of people did not like him, or the whole board should be replaced as they are incompetent to hire the staff.

This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.

All this discussion about problems that may exist in Victoria is really not applicable in this situation. Mr. Moster was fired not because of some 'conspiracy' or 'resistance to change' but simply because he does not have the abilities to do the job, either artistically or as a financial manager.
I'm sorry he feels like he does because it's simply not true. He was welcomed enthusiastically and with open minds by most of the volunteers who tried continually to work with him until the experience just became too frustrating.
The board and the volunteers do not act out of 'small mindedness' or for personal reasons; they generally act with only the well-being and advancement of the theatre and the arts in Victoria in mind, something Mr. Moster clearly does not.

With any type of leadership change there will be new rules and regulations. Seems to me that not enough time was given to see if the changes would work. Come on people it is time to get your head out of the barrel and accept changes. Oh by the way the actors are acting for free and there is a reason for that they are amateurs. Seems they are behaving like divas (:

I have to wonder if the people making comments so far have actually volunteered at Theatre Victoria. I can speak from experience that while yes, it can be hard to break in to any new group at first, the group of people who care enough to give their time and talents to Theatre Victoria are actually very welcoming to newcomers and are especially appreciative of new talent. I also agree with Randy Pollard that people who were not coming to the auditions were not part of some imaginary vicious boycot, but had simply started to be wary that the quality was going downhill and were perhaps waiting to see if things were going to get better again. As one who has performed and been active in Theatre Victoria, I can say that I personally welcome fresh new ideas as long as creating quality art is still the main goal. Change is great but not if it is change for the worse.

Mr. Moster, speaking as an outsider and a person who was fired from a job because I disagreed with the wrong people, I feel your pain. This town is run on small minded, vicious people. I for one would be excited to get someone here from AUSTIN to bring changes to the theatre. There are only so many times you can see the same people in a play. I like Tom Cruise, but if he was my only choice for entertainment I would get sick of him quickly. I also know I can get a better show in Austin for less money than here. They can't see past the end of their nose and will never change. Take this as an opporunity to move on and hopefully, like I am doing, save every dime to get out of here. Go to Houston, or out of state or back to Austin where you will be treated well and shown respect. Take care Mr. Moster, and I hope you and yours have a wonderful Christmas!!!

I, too, am an outsider. Victoria, Texas is a VERY cut-throat community. If you did not cut your teeth here and brown nose the right people, you are not accepted.

TxEx..I have to agree with you. Certain folks control Victoria and nothing gets in or out. Downtown sidewalks? City sports complex? Citizens Healthplex? Sewer Plant location?

All done for a vested interest by someone/group. Now talk of extending Airline to the Airport. C'mon lets do something at R.side Park--why hasn't nothing been done ever! Look at San Marcos, Seguin and other little cities they have areas of improvements with pavers and significant landscaping. Now Cuero has the 'christimas in the park' to our what. Why? was Red River Street NOT repaired all the way down to the park entrance, hmmm.

These folks need to TAKE OFF their 'boots' and get better organized and new blood (ideas) and don't feel threaten with new ideas. The football playoffs brought more people in town and now it seems Alamodome is taking that market away. Merry Christmas to all....ho ho ho

How true it is...."It was wrong and another case of the inmates running the asylum and supported by the board."

Typical of any Victoria non profit organization. Buck the system and you're gone. The same 20 people rotating around on the non profit boards. Sorry it came down to this Charles, it was wrong and another case of the inmates running the asylum and supported by the board. Even Julie Zimmerman threw you in front of the bus. I wonder what her new job title will be?

The only thing to do has been done. When the cast will not perform because of one person, that one person has to go. It is in the best interest of the theater. The quality of the shows will change with a new director. But as long as the attitude of the performers is high the quality of the performance should rise. If you are not happy doing your job then you will not do the best job you can do. That goes across the board with any job including acting.
Get a new director and go on with the show. Good luck to Charles Moster in the future and I hope your experience with the Victoria theater group does not reflect on your views of the Victoria community as a whole. The Victoria Theater group has taught you a lesson well learned. Not everyone fits in everywhere. You may be a very well rounded director, but not for the Victoria Theater Group. Sorry this has ended the way it did. The show MUST go on!