SUPERPOWER: Finding charm in unusual places
Executive Director, Foundry Theater
Rachel Allinder always had a deep love and appreciation of music. Not just the music itself, but the background of the artists, their discographies, and the meanings behind their lyrics. In her role as executive director at Foundry Theater in Huntington, she has been able to craft her dream job, bringing music and so much more to a cultural community hub.
The Point Pleasant native earned her associate’s degree in music business, then a bachelor’s in English, and finally a master’s in education. She taught elementary school for almost a decade, but with the support of her husband, Bud Carroll, she was able to stay home with her 4-year-old son, Edward, before he went to school. That same year, the opportunity to manage the auditorium on the top floor of Huntington City Hall became available.
The job description was open, so she and Nate Cesco created a business pitch for the space. “We wanted to create a cultural hub for Huntington,” Allinder says. “If you’re an artist and you want to share your craft, we wanted it to be a space where we can invite you to do that.” The city loved their pitch, so Allinder led the charge after Cesco relocated. Since becoming executive director in 2021, she has hosted everything from the symphony orchestra to dog trick performances, trying to figure out what works best in the space and what the community wants to see.
“My favorite thing we do here is screening films,” she says. Allinder worked in partnership with the City of Huntington and other contributors to secure $110,000 for the theater, which she used to buy sound reinforcement and a screen and projector. The theater can now showcase classic titles and up-and-coming films through the Appalachian Film Festival. She says the beauty and size of the auditorium provides an exceptional and unique viewing experience for their patrons.
Working with artists, actors, singers, musicians, movies, and more, Allinder loves “creating the playlist” for the community. “Seeing people on stage having their big moment and connecting with an audience, it’s a very cool feeling,” she says. “The excitement of the people in the crowd, taking photos—I love facilitating that and making that connection possible.”
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