Chicago Shakespeare Welcomes Deborah Vandergrift as General Manager

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) names Deborah Vandergift to the newly created position of General Manager. Joining the Theater's leadership team, Vandergrift will play an integral executive role helping to guide and manage the organization's resources-and overseeing CST's operational systems and human capital development initiatives and strategies.

Vandergrift has over twenty-five years of experience managing in the performing arts. She has held leadership roles at some of the nation's leading theaters, including Shakespeare Theatre Company (D.C.) and Hartford Stage, and has worked with a wide variety of artists, opera companies and dance groups throughout the United States and abroad. In addition to her organizational management experience, she has an extensive and distinguished career in Production and Stage Management.

Executive Director Criss Henderson shares, "As we embark on our 30th season and prepare to open The Yard, our innovative new performance venue-we are thrilled to welcome Deborah to Chicago Shakespeare. Her experience and leadership will be an invaluable addition to our team as we develop and implement strategies that will keep our organization vital and healthy throughout the next thirty years."

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) is a leading international theater company and the recipient of the Regional Theatre Tony Award. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Executive Director Criss Henderson, CST is dedicated to creating extraordinary production of classics, new works and family programming; to unlocking Shakespeare's work for educators and students; and to serving as Chicago's cultural ambassador through its World's Stage Series. Through a year-round season encompassing more than 650 performances, CST attracts 225,000 audience members annually. One in four of its audience members is under eighteen years old, and today its education programs have impacted the learning of over one million students. CST is proud to take an active role in empowering the next generation of literate, engaged cultural champions and creative minds. During 2016, CST has spearheaded the Shakespeare 400 Chicago festival in addition to announcing the creation of an innovative performance venue, The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare. For more, visit www.chicagoshakes.com.

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