Arts / Theatre Management Experience

ROBEY THEATRE COMPANY, Los Angeles, CA

Producing Director for five years

Administration:  Created and managed all budgets (total $250,000/yr). Wrote grant proposals and developed corporate sponsors.  Developed and implemented comprehensive marketing plan.  Managed all theatre staff and worked closely with Board of Directors. 

Artistic: Served as lead producer for five productions, focusing on the multicultural diversity of the African experience.  Productions included  FOR THE LOVE OF FREEDOM, Part I, II, and III, THE LAST SEASON, and PERMANENT COLLECTION.  Hired, managed, and supervised all creative staff, including directors, designers, and talent. Worked with director to implement production details.

Accomplishments:  Won NAACP Award, Best Production, FOR THE LOVE OF FREEDOM, PART I.  PERMANENT COLLECTION production optioned by the Center Theatre Group and part of the 2006 Season at the Kirk Douglas Theatre.  Created an in-school artistic/educational program with creative writing and acting components to serve minority teens in underserved neighborhood schools.  Worked with LA County Parks and Recreation to institute weekly acting programs with both children and teens in South Central LA centers. Developed a twenty week Playwrights Lab to serve emerging playwrights culminating in a week-long Playwrights Reading Series open to the public. 

OJAI PLAYWRIGHTS CONFERENCE, Ojai, CA

Coordinating Producer for four years

Administration:  Managed all administrative and day-to-day logistics of festival.  Negotiated contracts with all directors, playwrights, and actors. Managed all development activities, including producing annual celebrity reading/auction which grossed 60% of annual budget.  Supervised all staff and volunteers.  Managed business and production offices during ten-day festival.

Artistic:  Supervised all creative duties of festival, including selection and solicitation of annual season of plays, and casting of talent.

Accomplishments:  Sent ten productions to Broadway and regional theatres. Expanded festival from three play season to seven play season. Doubled annual budget. Increased staff positions from one to six. Created a writer in residence program.  Began as a local/regional event and now recognized as an international festival with personnel hired from both the continental United States and globally.

LANKERSHIM ARTS CENTER, Los Angeles, CA

Executive Director for three years

Administration:  Managed all facets of city-owned three-story historic arts center, including theatre company, art gallery, and rental rehearsal space. Supervised a complete renovation of building.  Worked closely with the Theatre's non-profit board and the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department.  Served as center’s spokesperson to community and city leaders.   Managed relations with building tenants, including implementing leasing policies and negotiating contracts with lessees.  

Artistic:  Planned and organized art exhibits in gallery.  Coordinated annual selection of plays with theatre's artistic director.

Accomplishments:  Increased gallery/theatre rentals from eight/month to 25/month which resulted in additional revenue. Created a community after school computer program which served an underserved population of minority teens and latch-key children.  Developed a playwright reading series which recognized and nurtured over 50 new playwrights.  Produced the opening ceremonies of the North Hollywood (NOHO) Art Festival which garnered both regional and local awards from the City of Los Angeles and the County of Los Angeles. 

 

GREENWAY COURT THEATRE, Los Angeles, CA

Lead Producer for three productions 

Administration: Created and managed all production budgets.  Hired and supervised creative personnel, including director, talent, design team, front of house and box office personnel. Created and supervised marketing plans. Supervised volunteers. Scheduled rehearsals and weekly production meetings.

Artistic:  Produced THEY SHOOT HORSES, DON'T THEY?, BANNED AND BURNED IN AMERICA, and ACTS OF LOVE AND REDEMPTION. Worked with directors to cast the shows. 

Accomplishments:  Ovation Award, Best Production, THEY SHOOT HORSES, DON'T THEY?  Ovation Award, Best Ensemble, ACTS OF LOVE AND REDEMPTION.  Dramalogue Award, PEN Award, BANNED AND BURNED IN AMERICA.

CENTER THEATRE GROUP, Los Angeles, CA

Liaison Producer for PERMANENT COLLECTION

Administrative:  Supervised all creative team, including Director, design team (set, costume, sound, light), and cast.  Coordinated rehearsal schedule.  Negotiated contracts with all personnel.  Supervised opening night event planning, including development and creation of invitation list.

THE ACTORS STUDIO WEST, Los Angeles, CA

Line Producer

Administrative:  Produced a double cast of WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?  Hired and supervised all design team (set, costume, light, and sound) and two directors. Scheduled and supervised weekly production meetings and rehearsals.  Coordinated volunteer staff.  Managed business and production office, including box office personnel.

Artistic:  Worked with both directors to cast the shows.

Accomplishments:  Developed and supervised the premiere live production for this branch of ACTORS STUDIO.  Company now producing a twenty play season in Tiffany Theatre.

SAVANNAH THEATRE COMPANY, Savannah, GA

Board President for four years

Administrative:  Successfully raised $2 million to renovate the oldest continually operating theater in North America.  Solicited funding from local, state, and national organizations. Implemented touring programs into schools, hospitals, and senior citizens homes.

Artistic: Selected theatrical schedule for four years.

Accomplishments:  Received Hansell Hillyer Award of Excellence, and local/state awards for best productions.

Marketing and Production Experience

STILLWELL PRODUCTIONS, Atlanta, GA and Savannah, GA

President/CEO for sixteen years

Administrative:  Managed a full service public relations, event planning, advertising and production company. Responsibilities included bidding on projects, creating advertising/marketing plans, supervising production details, negotiating union contracts, and physical implementation. Supervised a full time staff of seventeen and part time staff of up to 50. Clients included Barnum and Bailey Circus, Bus and Truck Theatrical Productions, Rock Performances (including the artists Sting, Arrowsmith, John Couger Mellencamp, and Metallica).       

Other Artistic Experience

INDEPENDENT CASTING DIRECTOR, Atlanta, GA and Savannah, GA,  for fifteen years

Administrative: Successfully cast both television and feature films. Production companies included Dreamworks, Disney, Miramax, Universal, Warner Brothers.  Full list of features and television productions available upon request.

FREE-LANCE NON-PROFIT ARTS CONSULTANT, Atlanta, GA, for five years

Administrative:  Created and implemented fund-raising activities, board re-organization, audience development, and marketing.  Clients included performing arts organizations, visual arts organizations, and non-profit companies. 

ACTING COACH/TEACHER, Atlanta, GA, for three years

Administrative: Created and managed two weekly acting schools, one for children (aged 4-16) and one for adults. Taught 100 children and 50 adults per week.

Artistic:  Designed acting curricula for children and adults. Youth classes included scene study, monologues, and on-camera acting techniques.  Adult classes included the business of acting, monologue selection, character development, and on-camera acting technique.

Education and Professional Development

B.S., Education, University of Georgia, cum laude

UCLA Entertainment Studies and Performing Arts Certificated Program

MEMBERSHIPS:  SAG, IFP, Women in Film, Hollywood Heritage Society, Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights (ALAP), former member of Georgia Film Board