Jeffrey Herrmann Named New Managing Director of Seattle Repertory Theatre

Seattle Repertory Theatre Board President Becky Lenaburg announced today the appointment of Jeffrey Herrmann as the Rep's incoming managing director, effective July 1, 2014. Mr. Herrmann will succeed departing Managing Director Benjamin Moore, who has led the organization for 28 years.

Announcing the appointment, Lenaburg, who also co-chaired the search committee, stated: "On behalf of Seattle Repertory Theatre's Board of Trustees, I am thrilled to welcome Jeff to Seattle Rep as our new managing director. Following a national search, we are confident that Jeff provides the winning combination of passion for the theatre and strong leadership experience to lead the Rep forward as a trailblazer in the theatre community. In collaboration with Artistic Director Jerry Manning, Jeff will build upon the strong foundation left by our departing Managing Director Ben Moore."

"I am so excited to be joining the flagship theatre of the Pacific Northwest and to have the opportunity to partner with Artistic Director Jerry Manning and the entire team at such an important moment in Seattle Rep's history," said Mr. Herrmann. "Seismic changes in our country's demographics, economics, technology, and politics are impacting every industry and transforming our culture. I find these forces deeply exciting and rich with opportunity. I am so looking forward to partnering with Jerry to harness them and build on the Rep's extraordinary legacy as a champion for emerging artists, a developer of vital new plays, and a convener of the community."

Mr. Herrmann will leave his post as managing director for Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, having led the Washington, D.C.-based theatre since 2007. During his time in D.C., he oversaw 18 world premieres, a 100% increase in the operating budget, the execution of a $4 million artistic capital campaign, and the purchase of Woolly's award-winning theatre facility. Prior to joining Woolly Mammoth, Mr. Herrmann served as producing director for eight years for Perseverance Theatre in Juneau, AK. Mr. Herrmann grew up in West Hartford, CT and received his B.A. in English at Vassar College and his M.F.A. in Theatre Management at the Yale School of Drama. Prior to his enrollment at Yale, he served as Managing Director of the Albany Berkshire Ballet in Pittsfield, MA. During his time at Yale, he worked at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, CA and as Associate Managing Director of the Yale Repertory Theatre. Mr. Herrmann currently serves on the board of dog & pony dc, and he previously served on the boards of the Foraker Group and the Alaska Arts and Culture Foundation. He has served as a panelist for the Alaska State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and Theatre Communications Group. Mr. Herrmann has taught Arts Administration at the University of Alaska Southeast and currently teaches in the graduate arts management programs at both George Mason University and American University. He has also worked as a sound designer on multiple productions at Perseverance Theatre and, most recently, at Georgetown University, 1st Stage, and Washington Shakespeare Company.

"I'm thrilled to welcome Jeff to our organization and very much look forward to our future partnership," commented Jerry Manning. "Jeff's strong background in new play development at Woolly aligns perfectly with my commitment to identifying new voices and bringing new work to our stages."

Consulting firm Management Consultants for the Arts, Inc. conducted the national search.