Dagney Ernest, who has been Camden Opera House's promotions and box office manager for the past six-and-a-half years, has retired. Kathleen Payton Brown has assumed that position as of the new year. 

Before joining the COH staff, Dagney had a long and colorful history with the theater, singing and acting on the Opera House stage with local performance groups, including Camden Civic Theatre and the Everyman Repertory Theatre, swing quartet Fascinatin' Rhythm, and the Arthur Hall International Dance Company. 

"We’ve been so lucky to have Dagney," said Opera House Manager Dave Morrison, in a news release. “For years, Dagney was the voice, and heart and soul, of arts and entertainment in the Midcoast - as A&E editor and writer for the former Courier chain of local newspapers, and a radio presence in the area. Dagney has made the experience of everyone who has come to an event at the Camden Opera House better.”

Kathleen Payton Brown will be taking over box office and promotional duties, building on her long connection to the Opera House. Kathleen has recently worked as the office and events manager for The Waldo Theatre, as well as an administrator for both the Camden Conference and the Camden International Film Festival. With 40 years of experience as a professional theatrical costume designer, her design credits include Portland Stage, Maine State Music Theatre, Theatre at Monmouth, and The Public Theatre.

The Camden Opera House is a restored Victorian theater in the heart of Camden, Maine that strives to bring the very best of arts, entertainment and current events programming to the Midcoast.