Ray Solley retires July 1st from leading Bend’s Tower Theatre: ‘We made some magic happen’
Claire Elmer
(Update: Adding video)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — After 16 years at the helm of the Tower Theatre, Executive Director Ray Solley is taking his final bow. He leaves behind not just a legacy, but an iconic institution with community spirit, creativity, and resilience.
“When I took the job, I had no idea I would be sitting here today, talking about retirement,” Solley said. “I had no idea someone would be asking me, ‘What’s your legacy?’”
Under Solley’s leadership since 2009, the Tower has grown into more than a historic downtown venue — it’s become a place for educational growth, artistic experimentation, and unforgettable moments.
“You don’t put things on the Tower stage that only you like,” Solley said. “That’s not what this is about. So you take some chances.”
That mindset shaped a wide-ranging and inclusive programming that welcomed performances across genres, cultures, and experiences. It has connected audiences to something greater than themselves.
“People come here for a social evening. They come here for entertainment, for education, for a celebration… and to experience something they could never otherwise experience,” Solley said.
When asked to describe what the Tower means to him in one word, Solley didn’t hesitate: “Responsibility.”
From navigating the recession to reinventing operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, Solley took that responsibility seriously. “It would’ve been very easy to retire during the pandemic, but that didn’t seem right or fair. I felt like I had a responsibility—to my staff, to our sponsors, our patrons, and to myself,” said Solley.
That sense of duty helped guide the Tower through turbulent times. Whether it was finding innovative ways to engage the public — like staging performances on flatbed trucks — or keeping the doors open against the odds, Solley and his team found a way forward.
“If we can’t be creative as the creative community, then maybe we’re in the wrong business,” he said.
Over Solley’s tenure, the Tower Theatre served more than 60,000 students through the “LessonPLAN” educational program, which continues to grow. “That happened under my watch, but it was the staff that made it soar,” he said. “They took it to the next level and cemented that legacy.”
Not to mention all of other accomplishments the Tower Theatre reached under Solley’s leadership…attendance grew by 50%, full-time staff tripled, and memberships quadrupled.
He speaks humbly of the word ‘legacy’. If it means anything to him, it’s the moments that made the building come alive for others. “There have been families who’ve celebrated marriages, deaths, reunions, and retirements here. Kids who started dancing here, came back to act in plays. If that’s a legacy—then so be it,” said Solley.
As he enters retirement, Solley acknowledges the uncertainty. “What I’ve learned is that retirement is intensely personal. You don’t know what’s ahead. You just have to embrace the not knowing,” said Solley.
Still, there’s comfort in what he leaves behind. “Leave it better than you found it,” Solley said.
KTVZ News congratulates Ray Solley on his retirement, and thank him for his years of incredible service to our community.