INDUSTRY: Steppenwolf Theatre Company Welcomes New General Manager

Steppenwolf Theatre Company welcomes Karena Fiorenza Ingersoll as General Manager. Fiorenza Ingersoll brings more than a decade of experience as a leader and producer in the performing arts. Currently General Manager for the internationally recognized Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, she will begin her new role with Steppenwolf in October 2017.

"After a thorough and replete search, I couldn't be more pleased to bring Karena on board. She brings a wealth of experience in strategic financial management, experience in and a passion for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion work, and a variety of management experience and training which will add significant value to our work at Steppenwolf. I am thrilled that she will be joining us," shares Executive Director David Schmitz.

"I've been fortunate in my career to work alongside and support some of the most insanely talented and generous art makers on this planet. I look forward to continuing that through-line at Steppenwolf, working alongside David, Anna and the entire Steppenwolf team in forging an artistically brilliant and inclusive future for American theatre," says Karena Fiorenza Ingersoll.

As General Manager, Karena Fiorenza Ingersoll will oversee all aspects of Steppenwolf's operations including Finance, Information Technology, Human Resources, Facilities, Audience Experience, Events Management and Office Management. Reporting to the Executive Director and serving as a member of Steppenwolf's senior management team, the General Manager is responsible for the strategic financial leadership of the organization and will lead a sophisticated team of full-time staff and part-time staff.

Karena Fiorenza Ingersoll currently serves as the General Manager for the internationally recognized Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, where she is the main line producer for the company and oversees all aspects of Operations, including Finances, HR, Legal, IT, and Facilities. Fiorenza Ingersoll also functions as the General Manager for the multi-disciplinary ensemble company, UNIVERSES. Previous tenures include associate managing director of both Berkeley Repertory Theatre (Berkeley, CA) and Yale Repertory Theatre (New Haven, CT), executive director of contemporary dance company Robert Moses' Kin (San Francisco, CA), and annual fund manager at Aurora Theatre (Berkeley, CA). She is also a freelance arts management strategist and artist representative, partnering with individual artists and ensembles whose work gives voice to underrepresented stories and perspectives. Recognized nationally, Ingersoll was invited in 2014 by Theatre Communications Group to be part of its SPARK Leadership Program's inaugural class. She is part of Enrich Chicago, a movement of Chicago-based arts leaders who are committed to eradicating racial inequity in the arts, in addition to being a consortium member of the Chicago Dancemakers Forum. She holds two bachelor's degrees from the University of California at Berkeley and an MFA in Theater Management from Yale University.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is the nation's premier ensemble theater. Formed by a collective of actors in 1976, the ensemble has grown to 49 members who represent a remarkable cross-section of actors, directors and playwrights. Thrilling and powerful productions from Balm in Gilead to August: Osage County-and accolades that include the National Medal of Arts and 12 Tony Awards-have made the theater legendary. Steppenwolf produces hundreds of performances and events annually in its three spaces: the 515-seat Downstairs Theatre, the 299-seat Upstairs Theatre and the 80-seat 1700 Theatre. Artistic programing includes a seven-play season; a two-play Steppenwolf for Young Adults season; Visiting Company engagements; and LookOut, a multi-genre performances series. Education initiatives include the nationally recognized work of Steppenwolf for Young Adults, which engages 15,000 participants annually from Chicago's diverse communities; the esteemed School at Steppenwolf; and Professional Leadership Programs for arts administration training. While firmly grounded in the Chicago community, nearly 40 original Steppenwolf productions have enjoyed success both nationally and internationally, including Broadway, Off-Broadway, London, Sydney, Galway and Dublin. Anna D. Shapiro is the Artistic Director and David Schmitz is the Executive Director. Eric Lefkofsky is Chair of Steppenwolf's Board of Trustees. For additional information, visit steppenwolf.org, facebook.com/steppenwolftheatre, twitter.com/steppenwolfthtr and instagram.com/steppenwolfthtr.