Chicago's Auditorium Theatre Appoints New Executive Officers

The Auditorium Theatre announces the appointment of CJ Dillon as Chief Programming Officer, Rachel Freund as Chief Financial Officer, and Nick Tigue as Chief Operating Officer.

"It is an honor to welcome Rachel Freund as our Chief Financial Officer and Nickolas Tigue as our Chief Operating Officer, and to continue to work with CJ Dillon in the newly created position of Chief Programming Officer," said Tania Castroverde Moskalenko, Auditorium Theatre CEO. "They are all leaders in their respective fields, and I look forward to the work we will do together, along with Chief Marketing Officer Colleen Flanigan and Chief Development Officer Judie Green, to shape the future of our National Historic Landmark."

The Auditorium Theatre also announces that their Board of Directors has appointed John Svoboda as its new Chairman of the Board of Directors. He has served on the Board since 2014. Svoboda succeeds Charles R. Gardner, who began his tenure as Chairman in 2015.

"First, I want to express my sincere gratitude to Charlie Gardner for his great work as Chairman of the Board of Directors, especially for his knowledge, wisdom, and support as I began my tenure at the theatre last fall," says Moskalenko. "I am so pleased to begin working with John as he steps into his new role. John is one of the theatre's biggest advocates, and he is dedicated to fulfilling the theatre's mission of being the Theatre for the People."

"It will be a great honor to lead the Auditorium Theatre's Board of Directors, and I look forward to working with Tania, her team, the Board, Roosevelt University, the theatre's programming partners, and the city of Chicago to significantly increase the profile of the theatre at the local, national, and international levels," says Svoboda. "I am excited about promoting the mission of the Auditorium Theatre, which as the Theatre for the People is the leading arts venue in the city for presenting such a diverse array of programming."

ABOUT THE OFFICERS:

CJ Dillon joined the Auditorium Theatre in 2007, and served as Chief Operating Officer from 2013 to December 2016. He was appointed to the position of Chief Programming Officer, a position created by Castroverde Moskalenko, in January 2017. As Chief Programming Officer, Dillon works closely with the CEO to curate the theatre's presenting series and to maintain relationships with local and international agents, artists, and productions, in addition to overseeing the theatre's Creative Engagement department. Prior to the Auditorium, he worked for Broadway in Chicago and Gill Theatrical Management in Las Vegas, and ran his own consulting business.

Rachel Freund worked at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company from 2002 to 2017 in the capacities of Director of Finance and, most recently, as Director of Operations and Management. She oversaw a team of over 30 people and handled a multi-million dollar budget. She is a newly appointed board member for Definition Theatre Company, and previously served on the boards for Red Tape Theatre and 20% Theatre Company. Freund holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Christian Brothers University and a Master of Arts Management from Columbia College Chicago. She is a registered CPA in the state of Illinois.

Nick Tigue comes to the Auditorium Theatre from the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel, IN, where he served as Vice President of Operations and Human Resources, overseeing production, facility management, rentals, security and safety, and human resources. Prior to the Center, Tigue worked as the Senior Director of Operations for the National Hockey League's Florida Panthers and as the Senior Director of Facility Engineering for the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, FL.

John Svoboda, a longtime Chicagoan and Auditorium Theatre donor, is a co-founder of Svoboda Capital Partners, a Chicago-based private equity firm, and currently the company's Managing Director. He previously served as Vice-Chair of the Auditorium Theatre's Board. In addition, Svoboda also serves as a trustee for the University of Chicago Medical Center and the Otho S.A. Sprague Memorial Institute; is a life trustee for the Francis W. Parker School; and serves on the Advisory Board of MATH Venture Partners.

The Auditorium Theatre, located at 50 E Congress Pkwy in Chicago, is an Illinois, not-for-profit organization committed to presenting the finest in international, cultural, community, and educational programming to all of Chicago and beyond as The Theatre for the People. The organization is also committed to the continued restoration and preservation of the National Historic Landmark.

The Auditorium Theatre 2017-18 Season is made possible in part with support from the MacArthur Foundation and the Palmer House Hilton. Michigan Avenue is the official magazine sponsor. For more information about programming, volunteer, and donor opportunities or theatre tours, call 312.341.2310 or visit AuditoriumTheatre.org. For a complete listing of events at the Auditorium Theatre, click here.

Pictured: Auditorium Theatre, photo by Lucio Vergara.