At face value, one of Scott Sowinski’s recent career aspirations might best be described as idiosyncratic.

“I want us to fail,” the 45-year-old director of Governor’s State University’s Center for Performing Arts said from a perch in the middle of the center’s 1,200 seat theater. “If we don’t fail, how do we grow?

“We want you to see (a show) and tell us if you loved it or hated it. It’s like a bad relationship. If you never tell me what I am doing wrong, how can I change it?”

Growth is the overarching theme of Sowinski’s fledgling tenure. After assuming the helm fully in July of this year, he set to work looking for new avenues for the center and its staff. The schedule this season offers diverse productions, including Sugar Skull — a family musical in celebration of Latin History Month, New Power Generation — the late artist Prince’s touring band, and a staff-led radio play of “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

While GSU past leaders have supported the arts with varying degrees of enthusiasm, Sowinski said Cheryl Green, the school’s president since 2020, has been a visible presence touting the center’s mission. Green, he said, attends many performances, including last spring’s, “Air Play,” an internationally touring circus-style production.

Green said support for the arts is vital, not only within the university itself, but also as a means of fostering interaction with the larger community.

“I am thrilled at the upcoming season in the center under Scott’s leadership,” she said. “It is a community resource that is beloved by the residents in the Southland and beyond.”

Sowinski said he’s excited to see what his group can do with such support. The center went almost 10 years without a director of finance before the previous director managed to create and fill the position.

“My predecessor did a great job creating positions. It’s my job, now, to give the people I serve ownership and agency, to trust them to do their jobs in the most professional manner possible,” Sowinski said. “My job is to be brand ambassador. I love being able to push the people I serve forward.”

A former Broadway and touring performer who was classically trained in opera performance, Sowinski said his background has given him a facility for mentoring those he serves.

“My role is to let them lead the way,” he said. “I tell them, ‘I don’t do; I give you permission to do.’”

Sowinski’s focus on nurturing individual strengths is reflected in staff response, as team members expressed enthusiasm for varied avenues of growth, from personal to institutional.

“I thrive on change,” said ticket sales specialist Autumn Price. “So, I’m optimistic about the new direction we’re headed under Scott’s leadership.”

Price said she’s equally excited about expanding programming, especially for families, and “exposing multiple generations to new performance experiences together.”

Virginia Lionberger, office manager, said she’s excited to see Sowinski bring his skill set to bear.

“As a professional actor and singer, Scott brings tremendous flair, texture and richness to our seasonal program curation,” she said, adding his professional background gives him in-depth knowledge of the market and the players in it.

“It brings endless possibilities to our stage,” she said. “I find that most compelling.”

Lionberger added she’s excited about the center being fully staffed.

“This will be our first season working as a well-oiled team,” she said.

Sowinski hopes the larger community catches that excitement, as he sees the center as a potential nexus for cultural change, and to do that he’ll be actively seeking engagement from those the programming is geared toward. Suggestions from the Latino community for Hispanic Heritage Month helped devise plans for next year’s events.

“I want to make this place essential,” he said. “I want our programming to serve a greater sense of community purpose, because culture can only stem from entertainment.”

Being entertained means being engaged and involved with the action onstage, he said. Ideally, it also exposes audiences to new ideas and emotions. He cited a shadow-cast performance of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show scheduled for Oct. 27 as a prime example, noting the impact the movie had when he first saw it.

“We underestimate art,” he said. “People think art is only serious. No, art is joyful. Art is comedy.”

Ultimately, Sowinski is confident the diversity of programming, combined with the appeal of the center itself could help to effect real change.

“We are always the shiny new present,” he said. “And isn’t that an amazing thing?”

A full lineup for Governor’s State University’s Center for Performing Arts 2023-2024 season can be found at govst.edu/cpa-events/.

Laura Bruni is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.