Houston Grand Opera Appoints Producing Director

Houston Grand Opera (HGO) has appointed Molly Dill to the newly created position of producing director, it was announced by HGO Managing Director Perryn Leech. An HGO staff member since 2003, Dill most recently served as the company's general manager. One of Dill's first acts in her new role was to hire Paul Spittle as technical director. He will begin his duties in August.

"I am thrilled that Molly Dill has agreed to take on this very important role, which strengthens HGO's management structure while taking her back to her opera production roots," said Leech. "Having worked closely with her for the past ten years, I have tremendous confidence in her leadership."

"It is very gratifying for me to begin this new chapter at the company that has nurtured my administrative career," said Dill. "In Paul Spittle we have found a seasoned professional who will help us sustain the high artistic standards for which HGO is world renowned."

Molly Dill began her career as a stage manager, working with opera and theater companies across the country, including Lyric Opera of Chicago, Opera Theater of St. Louis, Houston Grand Opera, Glimmerglass Opera in upstate New York, and Portland Stage Company in Portland, Maine. While at Portland Stage she moved into the position of company manager, which she held for three seasons before returning to Houston in 2003. Since that time she has worked for Houston Grand Opera in a number of different management roles, including as director of production.

Most recently she served as general manager. Paul Spittle's extensive production and technical management career includes twelve years overseeing production builds at the Metropolitan Opera and, more recently, running his own production and design consultancy firm in southern California, where his clients have included La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, and the Marriott Hotel group. Born in England, he attended art school in Vienna, then earned a degree in Visual and Performing Arts (Theatre) at Brighton University in the United Kingdom.