O'Neill Center's Jill A. Anderson Joins Syracuse Stage as Managing Director

Syracuse Stage has announced that Jill A. Anderson has been named the theatre's new managing director. Anderson is currently general manager of the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, CT, a position she has held since 2007. She is expected to begin work at Stage July 25. Anderson fills the position previously held by Jeffrey Woodward.

Anderson began her theatrical career as a stage manager working at such theatres as Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. and Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis, MN, among others. She continued at Arena Stage for five years, eventually serving as company manager. She moved to the O'Neill in 2006 as production manager and within a year became the company's general manager.

Anderson's experience at the O'Neill has been expansive and extensive and includes oversight of human resources, finance, box office, production, and facilities management. She has actively participated in the creation and implementation of marketing and development strategies for the Center's varied programming. She has also worked to cultivate long-term relationships with trustees and donors.

"I am delighted by Jill's selection as Syracuse Stage's new managing director," says Syracuse Stage's new artistic director Bob Hupp. "We really hit it off during the search process and I know we'll forge a strong partnership in Syracuse. Jill's success at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center points to great things for the management of Syracuse Stage. We are fortunate to attract someone of Jill's experience and commitment to our dedicated and talented team at Stage."

Anderson says she believes this is an opportune time to be joining Syracuse Stage.

"I look forward to using my experiences at the O'Neill and elsewhere in the service of such an esteemed organization, in a vibrant, diverse community. Coming onboard early in a new artistic director's tenure is exciting, and the selection of Bob Hupp signals Stage's commitment to its vision and to showing a wide breadth of narratives on stage."

Anderson's appointment as managing director completes the leadership transition at Syracuse Stage that began at the conclusion of the 2014/2015 season when producing artistic director Tim Bond and former managing director Woodward announced their intentions to move on from the theatre. Woodward is currently the managing director of the Dallas Theater Center. In July, Bond joins the faculty at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Fran Nichols, incoming chair of the Stage Board of Trustees, says Anderson's appointment positions Syracuse Stage for continued success as a leader in the Central New York artistic community.

"Syracuse Stage was fortunate to have a field of highly qualified candidates for this position. Jill Anderson emerged, among all of the candidates, to have all of the attributes that the search committee deemed necessary to partner most effectively with our artistic director, Bob Hupp, and to lead the business functions of Syracuse Stage."

Syracuse Stage concludes the current season with Ken Ludwig's Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, a comedy spoof of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles. The play runs May 11 - 29. The 2016/2017 season begins October 19 and includes an adaptation of Great Expectations, Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins, Disgraced, Ain't Misbehavin': The Fats Waller Musical Show, How I Learned to Drive, and Deathtrap. Subscription packages are available as of June 1. Single ticket sales begin September 6.

Syracuse Stage is Central New York's premier professional theatre in residence at Syracuse University. Founded in 1974, Stage has produced more than 300 plays in over 40 seasons including a number of world, American, and East Coast premieres. Each season 70,000 patrons enjoy an adventurous mix of new plays, and bold interpretations of classics and musicals, featuring the finest theatre artists. In addition, Stage maintains a vital educational outreach program that annually serves more than 15,000 students from 14 counties. A solid core of subscribers and supporters helps keep Syracuse Stage a vibrant artistic presence in Central New York. Additional support comes from the government, foundations, corporations and Syracuse University. Syracuse Stage is a constituent of the Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre, and a member of the Arts and Cultural Leadership Alliance (ACLA), the University Hill Corporation and the East Genesee Regent Association. Syracuse Stage is a member of The League of Resident Theatres (LORT), the largest professional theatre association in the country.

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