Bradford relishes role as

By Felix Hoover

Posted 08-09-09

Most of the renovation work was completed at the Lincoln Theatre in time for the grand opening in June, but fine tuning is ongoing, General Manager Suzan Bradford said recently.

"We're trying to see that she operates at full capacity," she said "We're still getting the sound system adjusted to multiple uses."

Bradford has assumed a maternal attitude toward the historic structure, which had been shutdown from 1970 until its recent $13.5 million renovation. During the opening night performance on May 28, 2009, Mayor Michael B. Coleman proclaimed himself "father" of the renovated building and board chairman Larry James, "uncle."

She relishes the motherly role which has witnessed people come from around the corner and all over the country "to see the new baby," she said.

Bradford's kinship to the building traces to her childhood.

"I remember as a seven- or eight-year-old girl holding up my skirt going up steps to African dance class," she said.

Bradford cultivated her interests in the arts and African heritage throughout her schools days and into professional life.

She attended East High School before heading to Norfolk State University, where she remained active with dance while pursing a degree in business management.

Bradford doesn't hold back when talking about her main inspiration, her mother, Gwen Gardner.

"She is my pride and my joy, my foundation," the proud daughter said.

After college, Bradford managed her mother's women's boutique for a while.

One of the transformative experiences for Bradford was a two-month trip to Senegal, which her mother arranged.

"I learned the language, customs and culture," Bradford said. "I lived day to day. I was so attracted to the children there and I went to every dance class there."

Back in Columbus, she worked 15 years as director for youth services at the YWCA and started teaching dance with the idea of instilling young people with cultural awareness to address love, acceptance and belonging.

Results show in the lives of her former charges, many of whom have become teachers, engineers, managers and business owners.

"We now have 27- and 30-year-olds who have been through the program and are passing it on to young people," Bradford said.

Her passion for the arts and her desire to serve people in her hometown helped position her when the national search was conducted for the center's top executive position. She also had the educational and professional credentials.

Many long-time friends say Bradford was destined for the Lincoln job and she know she will need to lean on them to succeed.

"It's the community that's going to make this building work," she said.

She maintains a hectic schedule, but when a local shop owner dropped in unannounced with 75 students from the

Upward Bound program at Ohio Wesleyan University she took time to give them a full tour of the Lincoln.

With the third floor devoted to the Jazz Academy of the Columbus Jazz Orchestra and with 10 resident arts groups, plenty of activity can be found even when the Egyptian revival-style auditorium isn't in use.

"In one building, people can get instruction, education and production," Bradford said. "They can be encouraged and introduced to new forms of arts."