Curating Community
Michelle Maasz Brouwer ’14 connects audiences and artists as director of programming at Irvine Barclay Theatre
By Diana Kalaji
At Irvine Barclay Theatre (IBT), Michelle Maasz Brouwer curates experiences that bring together students, artists and audiences, strengthening the creative connection between UC Irvine and the wider community.
“I would love for every student to see a show at the Barclay,” said Brouwer. “It’s right here on campus. Our doors are glass for a reason; we want you to come in and see what’s going on inside.”
As director of programming, Brouwer curates a full season of performances at a venue that bridges campus and community. Founded as a three-part collaboration between the Barclay,
UC Irvine and the city of Irvine, the theatre continues its 35-year mission as a shared space for UCI Arts, local community groups and touring artists.
Image: Michelle Maasz Brouwer outside the Irvine Barclay Theatre. Photo by Emily Zheng.
At Home
Brouwer grew up in northeast Ohio, where winters nudged her family indoors, often to the Cleveland Museum of Art or local theater productions.
“I always enjoyed the whole ritual of getting dressed up to see something amazing on a stage or walking through a gallery,” said Brouwer. “Those have been lifelong interests.”
When her grandparents took her to see The Nutcracker at age 7, ballet quickly followed. Through Canton Ballet, she trained in a setting that felt like its own artist village, with studios, a museum and a historic theater within walking distance.
“I was really lucky to grow up in that kind of environment,” said Brouwer. “The studio was where I was happiest.”
In high school, her family relocated to Southern California. When applying to colleges, Brouwer planned to one day open a dance studio like the one that had shaped her. With an interest in dance and working behind the scenes, UCI Dance was the only school she auditioned for, knowing there would be other career opportunities at a research university.
“When I came on campus for the audition, my intuition told me, ‘This feels good. Let’s pursue this,’” said Brouwer.
Brouwer was admitted into the Department of Dance and the Campuswide Honors Program. Midway through her first year, a severe foot injury upended her carefully laid plans.
“I seriously thought I was going to drop out of school,” she said. “I couldn’t train. I couldn’t do anything.”
Through the Campuswide Honors Program, Brouwer met mentors who encouraged her to map a four-year plan and consider adding another major.
“I kept asking, ‘What kind of environment do I want to work in? A gallery or a theater, hopefully,’” said Brouwer.
She added art history as a second major, a pairing she found natural. Her setback became a turning point, one that mentors like dance professor Molly Lynch helped her transform into a professional calling.
“Michelle was really the poster child of my arts management course,” said Lynch. “That course connects students to the professional world through internships and assistantships. Artists need to understand the business side of their craft, and Michelle really embodied that balance between artistry and organization.”
As a senior, Brouwer created the MIX Melting Pot Festival, a campuswide showcase of cultural dance organizations that foreshadowed her career in arts programming.
Image: Michelle Maasz Brouwer in 2014 with an OC Register article spotlighting her MIX Melting Pot Festival.
“Coming from a multicultural background, it felt natural to create a space for people to experience a variety of cultural dance forms,” said Brouwer.
The festival was presented on the UCI Arts campus in Winifred Smith Hall and later at Segerstrom Center’s Samueli Theater. The event was covered in local outlets, amplifying student artists while previewing the work that now defines her role.
Saying Yes
After graduating in 2014, Brouwer began as a development coordinator and supported marketing for local dance companies, including Festival Ballet Theatre.
A blind date led to marriage, and soon after, an international move to Germany with two weeks’ notice. In Wiesbaden, near Frankfurt, Brouwer found her way back to the studio, where she took ballet classes, taught dance to adults in English and performed in local productions. She also did administrative work for her former studio in San Diego, long before remote roles were common.
“Home is always in the studio,” said Brouwer. “You just have to find the studio wherever you are.”
Ready to return to Southern California, Brouwer posted on Facebook about her job search. The Barclay’s former marketing director, who once supervised her UCI internship, offered a part-time role. Brouwer said yes and soon became known as the “Swiss Army knife,” tackling projects of all kinds and advancing to director of programming in 2024.
Brouwer curates about 50 engagements each season, from jazz and Hawaiian music to contemporary dance and special events. She is also the principal contact with the Barclay’s partnership with UCI Arts, facilitating the opportunity for students in dance, drama and music to perform on a professional stage and strengthen their training.
Inside the theater, ties to UCI Arts are everywhere. Many box-office and front-of-house staff are arts majors, and alumni support marketing and fundraising — including Brouwer’s colleague Christopher Adriance ’11, vice president of marketing and a UCI-trained cellist.
As the Barclay celebrates 35 years, Brouwer is focused on growing its visibility, expanding programming and making the theater a refuge to its community.
“The studio has always been home for me,” said Brouwer. “For a lot of our patrons, the Barclay feels like a second home. If I can steward it so that it’s better than how I found it, and work as hard as I can for the smiles on people’s faces, it’s all worth it.”
To learn more about Irvine Barclay Theatre and upcoming performances, visit irvinebarclay.org.
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