Theatre At The Center Welcomes Richard Friedman As General Manager

April 7, 2011 - Munster, IN - Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana, one of Chicagoland's leading regional theatres, announces today the appointment of Richard Friedman as General Manager. 
 
Most recently, Friedman's served as Managing Director of Northlight Theatre for nine years, during which time the theater established their first permanent home at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, additionally increasing subscriptions from 3,000 to 9,000 patrons.  Under Friedman's management, the budget grew from $800,000 to $2.9 million.  He has produced commercial shows including ALWAYS, PATSY CLINE at the Apollo Theater, THE GUYS at the Lakeshore Theater featuring Jeremy Piven, Joan Cusack and Daniel J. Travanti and JIM POST'S HEART OF CHRISTMAS also at the Lakeshore Theatre.
 
"I am very pleased to be back pursuing my passion for theatre at such an important cultural beacon for the region and working with such an accomplished Artistic Director as William Pullinsi", said Friedman.  "Pullinsi and I collaborated together on the wildly successful production of OVER THE TAVERN at Northlight Theatre which led to a commercial run of a year and a half at The Mercury Theatre.  We look forward to many more achievements such as this."
 
Theatre at the Center Artistic Director William Pullinsi added "We are thrilled to have Richard Friedman join us in this capacity.  We look forward to what his experience and vast knowledge will bring to our organization.  He has proven that he can take an organization to the next level, and we welcome that opportunity."
 
Friedman has consulted in performing arts management with companies including Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre and Mordine and Company Dance.  He served as the Executive Director of Arts Resources and Teaching (A.R.T.), as well as the Managing Director of Organic Theater Company.  During his time with the Organic, he oversaw the renovation of the building on Clark Street, and produced such shows as the revival of BLEACHER BUMS, directed by Joe Mantegna, and DO THE WHITE THING with Aaron Freeman and Rob Kolson.
 
Friedman was a founder of the Illinois Arts Alliance, chairing its first statewide conference on advocacy for the arts. He is a former member of The League of Chicago Theatres and currently serves as the Secretary of the board of CAN-TV, Chicago's public access cable television organization.  Friedman is a co-founder of and former Director of Yellow Press, a literary publisher and is the author of two books of poetry.  Additionally, Friedman is a recipient of the Illinois Theatre Association's Annual Award of Excellence for his work at Northlight Theatre. Friedman is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago.
 
Founded in 1991, Theatre at the Center is a year-round professional theater at its home, The Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana.  Theatre at the Center is conveniently located off I-80/94, just 35 minutes from downtown Chicago.  For more information on Theatre at the Center, visit TheatreAtTheCenter.com.

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