Meet Bridgette Burton of Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre in Mableton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bridgette Burton.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have been performing since the age of three. My home church would do oratorical contests and I would perform in them. Easter speeches, Christmas speeches, welcome speeches… (you get it), I did them all. I used to recite the poem “Don’t Quit” all the time. It was like a signature performance. I went to Browns Mill Elementary and in 5th grade me and my friends wanted to do drama, but there wasn’t a drama club at the time. So, my friend’s mom started a theatre company for us which is still in existence today Act-N-Up Youth Theatre. (Shoutout to Auntee Myra! Act-N-Up, Sho Nuff!) We became the inaugural ensemble members and would perform in plays and have workshops.

I also started writing poetry at a young age and participated in different poetry slams like the V-103 Got Word Youth Poetry Slam and even started my own poetry cafe at my high school Redan High School in Stone Mountain.

Throughout middle and high school while very active in different student organizations, I still found myself returning to acting or writing. By the end of high school, I told myself that I wanted to be a playwright.

I attended the University of Georgia and majored in Theatre and Public Relations. I got to intern with Act-N-Up as stage manager, assistant director, and writer for the shows the organization put on for DeKalb Parks and Recreation and Camp Exposure. At UGA, I would tailor all my PR projects to theatre organizations and joined the Black Theatrical Ensemble where I acted, served as the PR Director for the organization and directed my first collegiate show. I also saw at UGA that being involved in the theatre industry could be so much more than just acting and my goal of becoming an artistic director of a theatre company was cemented there. Ever since I have been building up my experiences to that.

After graduation, I moved to Chicago and worked as Assistant House Manager and Concierge for Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Living in Chicago and working at Steppenwolf laid the foundation for so much that I do as an arts administrator. After that, I returned to UGA and worked as the House Manager and Volunteer Coordinator for the UGA Performing Arts Center (PAC) for two seasons. I then became the Assistant Box Office Manager of the PAC and served in that role for four years. In that role, I was able to expand the box office internship program, create a student engagement initiative called PAC Days at Tate, help transition the box office into a new ticketing system and lay the foundation for more effective internal processes and procedures. In 2017, graduated from UGA with my masters and third degree in Public Administration where I concentrated on Nonprofit Management and Higher Education Administration. In 2017, I was a part of the inaugural Brioxy Arts Executive Director Pipeline Program which provided me with various tools and resources to help lead and manage an arts organization. In October of 2018, I came to the Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre where I serve as the Assistant General Manager. It is a newly funded position at the amphitheatre which provides room to explore and work on a lot of different things. My main focuses at this point are overseeing the box office operations, assist with the day to day operations of the venue, serve as a liaison for our relationship with concert promoters and manage the social media platforms of the amphitheatre.

I should note in between all of this, I self-published a book of poems called The 365 Project: The Year of Getting Back To Me.  I also turned the book into a one-woman show that I have been touring with. I also continue to perform and write poetry and work on personal passion projects. My one woman show is now part of Atlanta Audio Fringe and will be part of the Atlanta Black Theatre Festival in October.

Has it been a smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road, but honestly, I would not want it to be. Each experience (good or bad) has brought me to where I am today. I get the opportunity to share my lessons and experiences with mentees and peers. I get to learn so much more about life because of the struggles I have been through.

I think the biggest struggles have been trying to find my place in the theatre world. I am good at a lot of things that are applicable to the industry, but it has been hard to articulate that and land jobs in a theatre. I am an arts administrator, but what is that exactly and how can the skills I have been seen as an asset?

It was hard finding a mentor in the field. I remember applying to so many theatre fellowship programs and apprenticeships and getting rejected because my resume did not have enough experience. It was really hard not to give up, but I honestly do not know anything else but working in the arts.

It is a struggle to fight your own fears and insecurities. I have been scared to audition or write because of the voice in the back of my head saying “What if someone doesn’t like it?” I have had to push past that and just go for it. I have had to take ownership of the great things I have done. I have been blessed to find an awesome mentor in Jamil Jude (Artistic Director of True Colors Theatre Company) who has been a big support. I have some great friends in the field like Al Heartley, Kelundra Smith, Monet Marshall, Tracey Bonner, and Jameeka Holloway-Burrell. I also try and honor the legacy of my friend Sam Roberson Jr. who took risks, found ways to create and inspired others.

I think of those above and so many others who are slipping my mind (but I love ya’ll, I promise) and realize that while there is work to be done to achieve my goals, they are possible. I have to do what works for me, not what works for others. I can’t compare my journey to others. If I am authentic in the work I create, all will be well. Ase.

We’d love to hear more about this facility.
The Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre is known as Atlanta’s Best Kept Secret located in Mableton, Ga. It is metro Atlanta’s only midsize, outdoor concert venue with covered, reserved seats. Located in south Cobb County, the publicly owned facility has the capacity to host 2,500 people for everything from country to rock concerts, and from plays to symphony orchestra performances. It exists mainly as a rental facility so all concerts you see on our calendar are presented by promoters who rent the facility and bring in different artists. Our season runs usually from May to November. The amphitheatre in collaboration with the Mable House Arts Center also produces The Theatre Project program which is a community theatre program for ages 9-19 with our mission being to provide theatrical experiences for Cobb County and Atlanta Metro-area youth with an emphasis on education.

As I stated before, my position is fairly new as it has never existed in the history of the venue. As we navigate that, I am focusing on box office operations and social media. This has been great as I am getting to establish a foundation for policies, procedures and helping to make the amphitheatre amazing. I have had the opportunity to also book entertainment for small programming at the amphitheatre. This began with the Inaugural Spring Arts Festival that we hosted in collaboration with the Mable House Arts Center. This summer the amphitheatre is launching a new free summer series called Movies, Bands & Brews where we will have live performances and then show a movie afterwards. I am so thankful to bring the following performers to the amphitheatre this summer: Jerome Newton and the Band who Fell to Earth (June 7), Hero the Band (July 5), The Neon Queen (August 2), Diva Royale (September 6) and the Georgia Players Guild (October 4).

One thing I am particularly proud of the work I am doing to help establish the brand of the facility. As a venue owned and managed by Cobb County, we are one of the few amphitheatres in the nation with this structure. I am helping to develop and articulate the venue’s mission and vision and began the groundwork for a strategic plan. I have been able to conduct focus groups with integral stakeholders of the venue (shoutout to my PR and MPA degrees). I am also working on establishing a visual and branding guide for the facility.

I am most proud of the community in Mableton and the surrounding Atlanta areas that we serve. Our patrons and volunteers are amazing. They have welcomed me with open arms and are very engaged with the amphitheatre. I have been able to learn a lot from them and taking in all of their experiences to help guide the process of establishing the branding and voice of the amphitheater as well as the strategic plan.

What sets Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre apart from others is that we are not trying to be like others. We have our own experience that people love and we are working daily to provide the best experience for our guests.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I am returning to Atlanta as an adult which is very different than growing up here. I am having to learn everything all over. I love that this city is a good place to network and learn from others. There are various events, organizations, and workshops available to help young professionals grow. I also think I lucked out by living in Cobb County. I don’t think I am ever leaving.

Contact Info:

• Address: 5239 Floyd Rd SW
  Mableton, Ga 30126
• Website: www.mablehouse.org
• Phone: 770-819-7765
• Email: mhba@cobbcounty.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mhbamp/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHBAmp/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhbamp?lang=en

Image Credit:
Black and White Photo: CMK Photography- Carole Kaboya, Images of the MHBA lawn and seats: John Ridings Photography
Red dress + Cap and gown photos– Photographer Doanise Thompson
Professional Headshot with me in all black — UGA Card Office
Photo with me in Blue polo pictured with MHBA General Manager Robert Edwards and MHBA Box Office Manager John Ridings — Personal phone photo
Sachel Samone Photography  – me in the denim and white

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