The Glory of Living photo Alena Murgula

Managing Director • THE MAESTRO FOUNDATION

2012 - present
The Managing Director serves as chief administrative officer for The Maestro Foundation. Maestro produces an annual concert series featuring internationally acclaimed artists such as Emerson Quartet, Nelson Freire and Steve Isserlis in what many consider the world’s finest chamber music enviroment. The organization also acquires and loans world-class instruments to accomplished young musicians so that they may reach their potential.

The Managing Director is responsible for executing the mission, production of the concert series, financial and budgetary oversight, special events and daily operations. Duties also include effective public relations, marketing, organizational development, communications and donor relations. Working closely with the Board of Directors, Artistic Director, Program Director and Artistic Coordinator, the Managing Director oversees the execution of artist contracts and venue preparation in an effort to realize the artistic vision and organizational stability.

Program Director • SOLANO YOUTH THEATRE

2005 - 2012
The Program Director acted as producer, artistic director and operations manager for this division of Solano College Theatre Association operating with AEA and USA contracts. The Program Director selected seasons, developed budgets, prepared audits, designed curriculum, created marketing strategies and hired artists and staff. The season consisted of two fully staged Broadway musicals, two plays and a month of intensive Shakespeare workshops culminating in public performances. The program operated in three cities simultaneously under the guidance of some of the Bay Areas top professional actors, musical directors and choreographers. Programming also included a year round musical review troupe that toured throughout the region.

SYT provided performance opportunities and classes for over six hundred young people annually. The Program Director contracted over seventy-five theatre artists and arts educators each season. Over sixty public performances or student matinees were produced annually. Over fifteen thousand patrons attended productions and workshops each year. Accomplishments included increased quality of production, record breaking box office sales and the successful launch of summer programming.

Project Coordinator • AURORA THEATRE COMPANY

2004 – 2005
Responsibilities included working closely with Artistic Director on planning and implementation of the theatre’s national new play development program launched during the 2004/2005 season. The Global Age Project attracted nationally acclaimed playwrights Craig Lucas and Amy Freed in its first season. Duties included networking to nationally prominent playwrights, agents, theatres and playwright development institutions. Duties also performed were directing, script selection, scheduling, coordination of artistic personnel and grant writing.

Producing Artistic Director • SPOKANE INTERPLAYERS

2001 – 2004
Responsibilities included artistic direction and producing for the region’s leading resident professional theater company. Accomplishments included the annual selection of a seven-show season; a 14% increase in subscription and single ticket sales the first season; establishment of a contract relationship with Actors’ Equity Association; leadership and fundraising of a successful $300,000 Theatre Building Fund Capital Campaign and streamlining financial reporting procedures. Other duties included hiring artistic and administrative staff, contracting actors, guest directors and designers from major regional theatre markets including Chicago, Seattle and San Francisco; and submitting annual budgets for Trustee approval.

Producing/Resident Director • CHICAGO DRAMATISTS

1995 – 2000
Responsibilities included managing this new play development company, strategic growth planning, creating and maintaining budget, grant writing and working closely with the artistic director to support and advance artistic planning, hiring, play selection and directing. Significant accomplishments included positioning the company as a financially stable Chicago new play development house; initiating a production season beyond in-house development programming; negotiating a CAT contract with Actors’ Equity Association.

Artistic accomplishments included working closely with the Artistic Director to develop the popular 10-Minute Workshop series. Duties included directing, hiring directors, casting, soliciting submissions, and management of all artistic elements of the program. Guest judges included Martha Lavey, Steppenwolf; Susan Booth, Alliance Theatre; Steve Scott, Goodman; Dennis Zacek, Victory Gardens and artistic leadership from Milwaukee Rep, Northlight, American Theatre Company, Organic, Next, Famous Door, About Face, Bailiwick, Live Bait, Circle and Stage Left. Artistic collaborations in production and development programming included such playwrights as Sarah Ruhl, Tina Fey, Rebecca Gilman and Octavio Solis.

Director • STEPPENWOLF'S NEW PLAYS LAB

1998 – 2000
Responsibilities included directing and casting for in-house or public readings for selected playwrights. The objective was to develop full-length scripts for production with a commissioned playwright at Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Assigned playwrights - Hilary Bell and Lisa Dillman.

Artistic Associate • ORGANIC THEATER

1993 - 1995
Directed staged readings of works under consideration for mainstage and studio production. The position was also responsible for written critiques of new scripts and assistance with literary management.

Executive Director • STAGE

1986 - 1991
Provided artistic leadership and business management for Dallas-area performing arts organization serving over 1,500 artist members. Society for Theatrical Artists, Guidance and Enhancement (STAGE), was one of the Southwest's leading service organizations with a producing arm that specialized in new play development.

Accomplishments included elevating the company's annual production of one-act plays to critical acclaim and national visibility. Responsibilities included producing, script solicitation and selection; contracting artists, executing marketing initiatives, curriculum development and overseeing daily operations. Commissioned original works.

Directed and staged productions in Equity bi-monthly showcases catering to the region's agents, motion picture casting directors, and theatrical producers at such theatres as Dallas Theatre Center, Theatre Three, Dallas Repertory Theatre, The Crescent Theatre and The Open Stage.