Downtown Harrisonburg’s Court Square Theater is preparing for a change in management.

JP Gulla, who has served as the theater’s managing director for the past three years, will depart the theater on Aug. 25. Gulla entered the director’s position in 2021, helping the theater transition out from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recalling the time, Gulla likened the period to opening a store after being closed for 18 months.

“When you’re thinking about opening up a big building like this, you have to think of it like opening it a brand new brick-and-mortar [business],” Gulla said. “Because people are not coming downtown, people are still scared because of COVID. The building was vacant, so you needed to take a look at making sure that, you know, your doors open the proper way and your HVAC is working. You needed a ticketing system because, at that point in time, there was no ticketing system, or computers, or anything like that.”

Gulla said that, while he has enjoyed his three years with the theater, he believes it is time to “pass the baton” to a new director for the theater.

While his time with the theater has ended, Gulla will remain in the heart of the Friendly City.

“I have taken a position at Hotel Madison as a senior sales manager,” Gulla explained. “Before I became, you know, the director here, I was offered to take a look at Hotel Madison, and things didn’t just align. I am extremely excited to be joining their team and growing so much of what they do, and how that looks for our community.”

Before working as the theater’s managing editor, Gulla served on its board of directors for four years and directed productions in the theater since 2015. Now that he is stepping down, he said he has offered to work part-time with the theater’s creative direction team to assist with the transition to new management but had heard no response as of midday Wednesday.

In the future, Gulla said he hopes to preserve the accomplishments made by the theater staff during his tenure.

“When I wrote my letter of resignation, I also wrote the proposed option for me to help train,” Gulla said. “Because, you know, we have done a lot here, in this space. Me and my team have done a lot, and I still want to be involved in helping to continue that because one of the things we don’t want is, we don’t want to take steps backward.”

In addition, Gulla said the most critical aspect of the theater was its role in the community.

“Our commitment to the community — the theater’s commitment to the community – will still shine through,” Gulla said. “We will still persevere. We’re still going to have an amazing staff here. The great thing about me being in position is that I have everything scheduled until April of next year. So it’s not like there’s not going to be events. And I will do my darndest to try to make sure that we continue with our commitment to the community by making it a true community theater and the heartbeat of Harrisonburg.”