Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Furney.
Hi Jennifer, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My story really starts with my parents, Ted and Mary Jo Kistler, who founded The New Vic Theatre here in Kalamazoo back in 1967. They had a dream to create a space where storytelling and music could bring people together — a place built on ensemble, collaboration, and community. I grew up right in the middle of it. By the time I was twenty, I’d performed in over forty productions and learned every part of how a small theatre runs — from acting to building sets to managing concessions.
After high school, I spent a number of years working in banking, law, and finance — experiences that gave me the administrative and financial skills I use every day now. In the mid-1990s I came back to The New Vic full-time, working alongside my husband and parents on everything from marketing and fundraising to bookkeeping and operations. When my mom became ill in 2003, I stepped into the role of Managing Director and have been carrying forward her legacy ever since.
My husband, Jim Furney, is the Artistic Director. He started at The New Vic in the early 1980s as an actor and musician, and over the years grew into directing and producing every show we do. Like my dad before him, he’s truly the driving creative force — designing the sets, lighting, costumes, and music, often all by himself with help from volunteers.
Together, Jim and I have led The New Vic for more than 30 years, keeping it a family-run, ensemble-driven theatre where everyone — cast, crew, and audience — feels like they’re part of something special. It hasn’t always been easy, especially through challenges like COVID, but our commitment to the theatre’s mission and to each other has never wavered. Today our daughters are the third generation involved, and that’s a wonderful thing to see.
In short, my path has been equal parts inheritance, hard work, and heart — growing up in a dream my parents started, and dedicating my life to keeping that dream alive for the next generation.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Smooth? No, I wouldn’t say that! Though I don’t think “smooth” probably doesn’t make for a very interesting story. The New Vic Theatre was built on passion and perseverance, certainly not wealth or ease. My parents, Ted and Mary Jo Kistler, poured everything they had (emotionally and financially) into keeping the theatre alive. Growing up, money was always tight. Family vacations weren’t a thing; there just wasn’t time or money for that. I remember us holding yard sales to pay the bills — both personal and theatre. It was always about making sure the doors stayed open, the lights stayed on, and the show could go on.
When Jim and I took the reins, those challenges didn’t go away. Small theatres rarely have the luxury of separate departments or big staffs — we are the staff. Jim designs and builds every set, does the lighting, costumes, sound — all of it. I handle the administrative, financial, and marketing side. It’s a lot to juggle, especially when we’re also trying to fundraise, attract new audiences, and keep ticket prices affordable. COVID was an especially hard blow — we were closed for over a year, lost about $270,000 in revenue and expenses, and had to reopen at half capacity just to keep everyone safe.
But even with all those obstacles, we’ve never lost sight of why we do this. The New Vic has always been about connection, the feeling of family, both on stage and in the audience. We may not have had much in the way of money, but we’ve always been rich in community and heart. Some of the people who started here decades ago are still with us today, and that sense of loyalty and love is what keeps us going.
It’s been a road full of bumps and detours, but also full of laughter, music, and the kind of joy that only comes from doing something you truly believe in. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At The New Vic Theatre, we create live, intimate theatre that brings people together. Our space seats just 100 people, cabaret-style, which means there’s no hiding behind distance or spectacle. Every production is about connection. We specialize in ensemble-driven storytelling, where actors and musicians collaborate to tell human stories that make audiences laugh, cry, and reflect. Over 80% of our productions have been plays new to Kalamazoo audiences, and our goal has always been to introduce people to fresh, engaging work while keeping our focus on heart and honesty.
What makes The New Vic different is that we’re truly a family-run theatre in every sense of the word. My husband, Jim Furney, is the Artistic Director and creative force behind every production. He designs the sets, lighting, costumes, and sound himself, often with help from volunteers. Our daughters represent the third generation to be part of this work, and many of our volunteers and performers have been with us for decades. That sense of family extends to our audiences; people often say walking into The New Vic feels like coming home.
I think what we’re most proud of is our longevity and our impact. For almost 60 years, we’ve given Kalamazoo audiences meaningful, affordable theatre and a place to belong. Our original production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, has become one of the longest-running holiday traditions in the area. We’ve welcomed generations of families who come back year after year.
What sets us apart isn’t glitz or glamour; it’s authenticity. Every show, every moment, is personal. We pour ourselves into it because this isn’t just our work — it’s our life’s calling.
What makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is seeing people connect — really connect — whether that’s an audience moved by a story, a cast coming together as a team, or one of our longtime patrons greeting a newcomer like an old friend. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about creating an environment where people feel seen, valued, and part of something bigger than themselves.
I also find joy in the quiet moments. When the house lights go down, the music starts, and you can feel that collective breath before a show begins. It’s magic every single time.
On a more personal level, I’m happiest when I’m surrounded by my family — my husband, Jim, our daughters, and the theatre “family” that has grown around us. Outside the theatre, I love to travel. Because we didn’t have the means for family vacations when I was growing up, Jim and I made it a priority to give our daughters those experiences. Sometimes it meant camping, sleeping in the car, or staying with friends. But, much like running the theatre, we made it work with what we had. Those adventures brought us closer as a family and gave our girls a sense of wonder and appreciation for the world beyond our little corner of Kalamazoo.
The lines between work and life have always been beautifully blurred for me, because The New Vic is our family’s story. Watching it continue into a third generation, and knowing that my parents’ dream is still alive and touching people’s lives. That’s a kind of happiness that I can’t really put into words.
And in the end, that’s what makes me happiest . Creating memories, whether on stage or on the road, that connect people and remind us how good it feels to belong.
If I’ve learned anything along the way, it’s that passion and perseverance can carry you through just about anything. You may not always have all the resources, but if you have heart, creativity, and good people by your side, you can build something lasting and meaningful.
That’s what The New Vic has always been about; doing what we love, with love, and sharing it with others.
Pricing:
- Regular Season Productions: $33.50
- A Christmas Carol: $40
- Memberships available for a discounted rate
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thenewvictheatre.org
