The House Theatre of Chicago Appoints New Managing Director

The House Theatre of Chicago announced that Brian Frederick has come aboard as the company's new Managing Director, a role which has been vacant since 2010. The staff is further expanded with the recent addition of Chelsea Keenan as the Director of Audience Development and Company Member Chris Mathews as the Communications Manager. The House launches its 11th Season with Artistic Director Nathan Allen's first brand new work in over two years, The Iron Stag King: Part One.

"I am proud to welcome my friend, colleague, and fellow SMU alum, Brian Frederick to The House," remarked Allen in sharing the news with the Company Members. "He is a terrific partner, and a valued steward of this organization's mission and spirit. Our wonderful Board has arranged a very happy marriage."

From August of 2010 to August of 2012, Brian Frederick served as the Director of Development for the Great River Shakespeare Festival, a theatre company based in Minnesota dedicated to compelling productions of Shakespeare's works and dynamic education and outreach programs. In that time, he secured the largest gift in the company's history, increased major donor support by 60%, and doubled annual contributions from corporations. Most recently, he designed and successfully completed a $1.6 million campaign for the Festival which enabled it to develop an operating reserve and significantly increase its working capital, ultimately strengthening the organization's long-term prospects and stability.

Board President David Spielfogel reflected, "The work created and the vision presented by the artists of The House makes a professional staff imperative. To give Nathan [Allen] a partner like Brian to support and expand that vision is crucial. As a Board, we were unanimous in agreeing this was the time to do it and that Brian was the perfect candidate for the job. The management of the company at the organizational level can now enhance the fundraising efforts of the Board and reflect the high quality of the work on our stages."

"I've experienced first hand what happens when you give a generous and enthusiastic patron base the opportunity to safeguard an organization's future and nurture its growth," commented Frederick. "Between The House's superbly talented company, astoundingly dedicated and hard-working Board, and the really exceptional staff, there's no limit to what The House can do in the coming years. I'm humbled and excited to get to be a part of it."