Rose Ann Hofland works as the director of communications and community engagement for Levitt at the Falls. Though she is disheartened that she won’t get to experience the live performance energy of the outdoor music venue early in the season, she says she and the team are excited to give a taste of it via Facebook Live with Levitt in Your Living Room (more on pg. 11).
Hofland shared highlights from her career, her favorite artist to have stepped on the Levitt stage, and what brings her joy every day.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
I’m so lucky to have a job where I work with amazing people; our Levitt team, board of directors, and volunteers are so committed and energized by our mission. They’re also really fun people. It makes going to work, even on long days in the sun, something that fills me up.
At the Levitt Shell, I get to help create positive moments of connection for people in our community through great art. Our work creates an opportunity for joy, relaxation, and a rare opportunity for people to naturally connect with their neighbors through a fantastic, free music experience. Getting to do work that results in people having such a great time and showing kindness to one another, while engaging in this beautiful joint experience is such a gift.
I’m especially moved when we get to bring artists out into the community into classrooms, hospitals, and other places to reach people who might not have made it to the lawn yet. Those intimate moments of music and connection are magical.
WHO WAS YOUR FAVORITE ARTIST TO EVER COME TO LEVITT AT THE FALLS?
There are so many to choose from, and we’ve only had one season. I really loved Flor de Toloache, last year’s Levitt National tour. The group is a GRAMMY-winning, all-female mariachi band based in New York City who are constantly collaborating with other artists and bringing new takes to a traditional musical form. Mariachi is usually performed by men, so I loved that these women were embracing and challenging that assumption. Their harmonies are amazing and their ability to transcend language differences and connect with a live audience was really cool to see. They just came out with No Sigas (Don’t Speak)—a No Doubt cover that has been on my Spotify rotation this week.
WHAT IS SOMETHING SMALL THAT MAKES YOU SMILE?
My dog, Fozzie, is a bright spot every day. He is a rescued chow mix who looks a bit like a small lion and is very calm. It’s pretty great to see him sleep on our porch in the sun like a cat.
WHAT IS SOMETHING PEOPLE MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU?
Fun fact: I bake about 1,500 cookies every holiday season as a tradition passed on by my father. I plate and pack them up and then send them out to my family and friends. My cookies don’t hold a candle to Queen City Bakery’s cake, but I do what I can.
“THERE IS AN ENERGY AND A CONNECTION BETWEEN AUDIENCE AND PERFORMER IN A LIVE EVENT, AND IT’S HARD TO CREATE THAT CONNECTION REMOTELY.”
WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS-FREE WORLD?
I miss the theatre. The performing arts have been hit hard by this pandemic and have a long road to get back on their feet. I grew up being immersed in theatre and working with a group of others to tell a story has been an important part of my life for a long time. I look forward to when I can attend or be a part of a show again.
