Pamme Jones, Executive and Artistic Director of the Ridgefield Theater Barn in Connecticut

“Theater Is Community

 Pamme Jones

Executive and Artistic Director of the Ridgefield Theater Barn in Connecticut

How Do You Lead with Inclusion, Respect, and Joy?

This week on the Community Catalysts podcast, I speak with Pamme Jones, Executive and Artistic Director of the Ridgefield Theater Barn in Connecticut—a community theater with a story that’s anything but small.

Fifteen years ago, a conversation about light bulbs led to a radical reimagining of what their organization could be. Since then, Pamme and her colleagues have reshaped the Theater Barn—culturally, structurally, and physically—into a thriving center of creativity, connection, and community.

But what makes this story remarkable isn’t the $2.7 million capital expansion or the long list of programs—it’s the clarity and courage behind three simple values: inclusion, respect, and joy.

Pamme talks candidly about painful leadership transitions, the emotional cost of change, and the personal risks she’s taken to uphold those values—not just in theory, but in action. From firing a director weeks before opening night to expanding youth programs that reach beyond her zip code, she shows what it looks like to lead from purpose, not fear.

This conversation will resonate with anyone navigating the slow, hard, necessary work of transformation—especially if you're asking how to stay grounded in your values when the stakes feel high.

Listen to the episode now and consider this:

If you could re-invent your organization from the ground up, what three values would you start with?

I’d love to hear your answer. Just reply—or call 602-688-2724 and leave a message for the show.