The show has just begun
By Dan Fagan
University Communications
publicinformation@minotstateu.edu
It was a domino effect in early March, as theaters shuttered their doors in response to the specter of COVID-19. From New York to Los Angeles, it was lights out for American stages.
But if one listened carefully this summer, they may have heard the chorus of melodious echoes brimming from the North Dakota Badlands.
While it may have been lights out on Broadway, it was lights up on the Medora musical.
One of the architects behind the summer musical was Justin Fisk ’10, the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation marketing and communications director.
“Once COVID hit, our executive team started meeting every day to assess what had changed, what hadn’t, and sifting through several different models to develop a strategy going forward,” Fisk recalled.
Fisk exudes the attributes of an ideal crisis-handler. He discusses the mayhem of mid-March with an air of calmness — COVID-19 was simply one more obstacle in an industry where obstacles seem to grow on trees.
With so much uncertainty in the air, Fisk and his counterparts decided to build their path forward with a motto attributed to Theodore Roosevelt, “do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
A plan was hatched to open the musical, but with major adjustments to the budget and accommodations to protect the health and safety of audiences, as well as the performers, crew, and staff.
“It was a collaboration,” Fisk said. “We asked everyone for their input and evaluation but at the same time asked for their courage to step out into the unknown.”
The unknown proved to be a pleasant surprise, with the show running from early June to Sept. 12. The response from audiences was overwhelmingly positive.
The communications team received hundreds of comments from audience members expressing their gratitude, including one message in particular that still resonates with Fisk, “thank you for being tough when times are tough.”
Juggling projects is a skill Fisk honed during his undergrad days at Minot State while triple majoring in marketing, international business, and virtual commerce.
Instead of waiting for graduation to enter the workforce and put his education to use, he decided to start a business, a motorcycle publication called Grassroots, when he wasn’t at class.
After graduating, Fisk started as an online marketing manager for Midwest real estate conglomerate IRET. A few years later, Fisk landed at KK Bold ad agency in Bismarck, a job he described as a “next-level bootcamp” in the world of virtual business. One of his clients was the Medora Foundation. A few years later, his client would offer him the opportunity to lead the Foundation’s marketing team.
During his tenure, Fisk has advanced Medora Foundation’s virtual footprint, with a shift toward focusing on tech to inspire travel and conduct business. The summer musical, alone, has experienced its five best-selling seasons under Fisk’s watch.
Now in his seventh year with the Medora Foundation, the sky is the limit for Fisk, who is transitioning into the role of chief strategy officer.
“We’re getting ready to put together a plan for the board of directors for what the next 50 years might look like,” Fisk said. “We’re at a point now where we know our strengths and are thinking about what’s next. What are the things that Disney is doing that we can also do? Let’s see how we can incorporate that kind of sophistication into a business model that North Dakotans will still be proud to be a part of.”
About Minot State University
Minot State University is a public university dedicated to excellence in education, scholarship, and community engagement achieved through
rigorous academic experiences, active learning environments, commitment to public service, and a vibrant campus life.
| Published: 12/14/20 |
