Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival Announces Executive Board Transitions

Robin Shelby Arditi, President of the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, has announced staffing and Board of Directors transitions for the Festival as it enters its 25th season. 

Maggie Whitlum, a member of the Festival's Board since 2009, has stepped down from the Board in order to join the senior staff of the Festival. In partnership with Artistic Director Terry O'Brien, she is now responsible for the overall management of the Festival. Ms. Whitlum brings to her new role a long and distinguished career in theater arts management in the United Kingdom, where she was the General Manager of the world-renowned National Theatre in London from 1989 to 2007. Prior to that she had senior management positions with other UK performing arts organizations including the Royal Shakespeare Company in London and Stratford-upon-Avon. She currently serves on the Board and Finance Committee of the British American Drama Academy.

Susan Landstreet, longtime Executive Director of the Festival, will be stepping down at the end of the season to resume her own consulting business through her company Crossroads Communications. Crossroads Communications will provide marketing and communications services to non-profits and other businesses in the region. The Festival looks forward to being among Crossroads' clients. Ms. Landstreet will also serve on the Festival's Advisory Board.

"It's been a great run," stated Ms. Landstreet, "but now I am looking forward to focusing on my own business with a diverse range of clients including the Festival. And the prospect of having some time off in the summer and spending more time at our house in Spain is appealing. I am very excited about all of the possibilities."

"We are all extremely grateful for Susan's many years of hard work, dedication and professionalism," said Ms. Arditi. "Under her management, the Festival has steadily grown into a nationally recognized regional theater, with three mainstage productions at Boscobel each summer attracting more than 32,000 audience members. In addition, our year-round education programs have grown in number and diversity, serving 37,000 students and faculty in the tri-state area. Fortunately, in Maggie Whitlum we have a highly experienced theater arts manager who will now continue to carry us forward and build on Susan's accomplishments. It has been terrific to work with Maggie on the Board. Terry O'Brien and I look forward to a very fruitful and creative collaboration with her in her new leadership role. "

Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival performs outdoors under a tent each summer on the grounds of the early 19th Century Boscobel estate, overlooking the Hudson River in Garrison, NY. The 25th Anniversary season opens on June 18th with The Comedy of Errors and continues with the openings of Around the World in 80 Days on June 25th and Hamlet on July 2nd. The season closes on September 4th during Labor Day weekend.

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