Synchronicity Theatre's Lee Nowell To Step Down As Managing Director

On June 30, 2018, Lee Nowell will step down as Managing Director of Synchronicity Theatre. Ms. Nowell, an acclaimed and award-winning playwright, is leaving the position in order to fully-commit and focus on a variety of creative projects. Beginning July 1, 2018, Virginia (Gin) Nugent will serve as Interim Managing Director, and will temporarily assume Ms. Nowell's roles and responsibilities. She will not be a candidate for the permanent position. An official search for a full-time Managing Director will begin in mid-July 2018.

Since Lee Nowell took on the role of Managing Director in 2015, she has been instrumental in ensuring Synchronicity's financial viability and growing its profile in Atlanta's cultural landscape. During her tenure, the Company has increased main stage programming from three shows a year to five, adding two full productions to the Bold Voices Series for adult audiences; launched an arts incubator project, Stripped Bare, which provides free space, technical support and marketing support to young professionals so they can create and develop new work; expanded mission-driven programming like Playmaking for Girls to reach more at-risk teen girls across Atlanta; and brought in over 10,000 new patrons and increased ticket sales across all series.

Ms. Nowell oversaw the launch of a new five-year strategic plan that increased salaries for artists, designers and staff and eliminated all long-term debt for the organization. She was instrumental in growing a new venue rental program that has provided rental space to over 52 different organizations, bringing in over $129,000 in rental income.

With the full support of Synchronicity Theatre's Board of Directors, Virginia Nugent will continue to foster, maintain, and steward Ms. Nowell's accomplishments until a permanent candidate is selected. Ms. Nowell will continue on as an Artistic Associate with the Company.

ABOUT VIRGINIA NUGENT
Following a decade in production in her native Australia, Virginia Nugent has spent twenty years in arts management and leadership positions in the U.S., including Pittsburgh Opera (Director of Production), History Theatre (Managing Director), Minnesota Dance Theatre & the Dance Institute (Development Director), Jazz Institute of Chicago (Marketing & Development Director), Chicago Dramatists (Development Director & Interim Managing Director) and The Actors Gymnasium (Executive Director). Virginia moved to Atlanta in 2017. Her company, Mayday Creative Solutions, specializes in stewarding organizations during transition, managing business operations, coaching individuals, and working on special projects.

ABOUT SYNCHRONICITY THEATRE
Synchronicity Theatre produces smart, gutsy, high-quality theatre that sparks community connections and uplifts the voices of women and girls. Synchronicity supports women artists, forges long-term and effective community partnerships and develops new work. Synchronicity was founded in 1997 by four women with a desire to work collaboratively and bring challenging, meaningful theatre to Atlanta audiences. Synchronicity reaches nearly 8,000 patrons a year through its season of plays for adults (Bold Voices) and families (Family Series); community outreach; educational programming, including Playmaking for Kids (PFK) summer camps and after school programs, and the award-winning Playmaking for Girls (PFG) program. An intimate theatre in the heart of midtown at Peachtree Pointe became Synchronicity's home in the summer of 2014.