Fox Valley Repertory Names Patrick Stinson New Managing Director

Fox Valley Rep, in residence at Pheasant Run Resort, is proud to announce the appointment of Patrick Stinson as Managing Director. Stinson becomes the second managing director of Fox Valley Rep in its eleventh year of existence, and begins his role on July 13. He succeeds current Managing Director Colleen Tovar, who leaves Fox Valley Rep after eleven years to teach at Ball State University.

Patrick Stinson, a Chicago area native, has been working in theatre for over 20 years. Holding degrees from Millikin University and North Central College, he has used his skills to helm The Clinton Area Showboat Theatre in Clinton, IA and The Papermill Theatre in Lincoln, NH. Stinson has also taught in the Oswego, IL and Plano, IL school districts. Believing that arts are driven by and for the community, he is a past President and current Vice President of Fox Country Players, a community theatre out of Yorkville, IL. He has been involved with Fox Valley Rep for several years as Director of the musical The Winter Wonderettes, as well as several Fox Valley Rep youth ensemble musicals including the current summer production of Disney's Beauty & The Beast Jr.

As Managing Director, Stinson will be responsible for supervising and facilitating all operations of Fox Valley Rep and its Performing Arts Academy at Pheasant Run. He will also play a key role in selecting the 2016 Theater Season alongside Artistic Director John Gawlik.

"Theatre at Pheasant Run Resort has had a great tradition of quality entertainment and art, it is my goal to continue that tradition and make Fox Valley Rep the first thing people think of when they want to see theatre in the Chicago suburbs," says Stinson. "Theatre education at FVR is the best in the area and I want everyone to know it. Students work with professionals. These are directors and choreographers who actually work in the business, and designers and stage managers that make a living doing their art. Granted there are many theatre education programs out there, but none that can come close to what FVR does."

Gawlik and Stinson are eagerly programming the 2016 Theater Season with hopes of announcing it in the early fall.

"Having been a part of the FVR family since 2009, I am aware of the fantastic shows that are produced and the great theater facility at Pheasant Run Resort," adds Sinton. As managing director, the major changes we'll see are the shows and programming getting better and better."

"I am very excited that Patrick is joining Fox Valley Rep. He has a great deal of experience with theater companies, is local and is someone who has been involved with our organization for some time. I look forward to working with him to grow Fox Valley Rep," says Artistic Director John Gawlik. "But this is also a bittersweet moment as Colleen Tovar will be leaving to pursue a teaching career. Colleen has had a tremendous impact on the success of the company. I have worked with Colleen for over ten years and she has given this company everything she has. I wish her luck in Indiana and know we will find some way to work with her again."

Fox Valley Repertory (FVR) is a not-for-profit performing arts company in residence at Pheasant Run Resort (4051 East Main St., St. Charles, IL) dedicated to entertaining, enriching, and educating lives in the Fox Valley Area. As one of the largest, professional arts organization in the area, FVR strives to present outstanding productions that allow audiences to laugh, reflect, and reconnect to moments in their lives. For more information, visit www.foxvalleyrep.org.

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