WaterTower Theatre Welcomes Nicholas Even as New Managing Director

The Board of Directors of WaterTower Theatre announced today the appointment of Nicholas Even to the position of Managing Director.

Even will formally assume his post on October 1 and will be responsible for overall administrative management of the Theater Company as well as oversight of its finance, fundraising, marketing and communications.

"We are very pleased to have Nick join WaterTower theatre to help lead the company into its next era of growth," said WTT Board President Paul Shultz. "Nick brings extensive experience in non-profits arts leadership, a strong interest in theatre, and a personal history with WaterTower. Partnering Nick with Artistic Director Joanie Schultz is truly exciting for WTT."

"Since Joanie joined us in January (2017), WaterTower Theatre has generated significant excitement among audiences and artists in the Metroplex," Board Chairman Derek Blount added. "We anticipate Nick and Joanie to constantly elevate each other and for WaterTower Theatre to reap the benefits of this incredible pair of leaders. Joanie will continue to bring her skillful artistic perspective to WaterTower's stage offerings and other artistic programming, while Nick will work to expand our reach into the Metroplex and to build the support needed to achieve our artistic goals. The future is bright for this great theatre company."

"I am thrilled to be partnering with Nick in leading WaterTower Theater," Schultz added, "I believe that with his expertise and vision on the administrative side of our organization, we will be able to realize our long-term vision of supporting artists more deeply, and to create the most innovative and exciting theatrical work."

Even will inherit the position of Managing Director from long time employee, and former MD Gregory Patterson. "Successfully managing a non-profit arts institution requires a unique combination of experience and skills," said Patterson. "It takes strategic fundraising experience, a finely developed marketing sense, exceptional financial acumen, and natural diplomatic people skills, all of which Nick Even possesses in spades. I've had the pleasure of working with Nick on many occasions, and when I learned he was to become WaterTower Theater's new Managing Director, I couldn't have been more excited. He is the perfect choice to lead the Company, alongside Joanie Schultz, into the future."

Even comes to his new role after nearly 30 years practicing as an attorney, while actively serving as an arts community volunteer. He served on the Board of WaterTower Theatre from 2005-2008, as Development Committee Chair from 2005-2007 and as President in 2008. Other service has included Vice President and Nominating Committee Chair of The Dallas Opera Board of Directors, Trustee of The Dallas Opera Foundation, Vice President and Grants Committee Chair of TACA's Board of Directors, and the Second Thought Theatre Board of Directors. Even was Co-Chair of TACA's Custom Auction Gala in 2012, Co-Chair of The Dallas Opera's First Sight/First Night events in 2014, and Co-Chair of Second Thought Theatre's 2017 State of Mind fundraiser. He was a recipient of a 2017 General Director's Award for Outstanding Board Service at The Dallas Opera.

A graduate of Cornell College and Harvard Law School, Even was an associate at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett in New York City and then a partner at Haynes and Boone in Dallas. During his legal career, Even also acted as legal counsel for individual artists and for arts organizations including The Dallas Opera and The New York City Opera.

"I am honored to return to WaterTower in the role of Managing Director at the beginning of the Joanie Schultz's first full season at the Theatre which will include two world premieres and three regional premieres," commented Even. "I believe theatre can be a powerful and transformative medium and that WaterTower has an integral role to play in Addison, DFW, North Texas and beyond. This Theatre company is poised for amazing growth. I look forward to working with Joanie and the committed staff, Board and volunteers of WTT to produce theatre of the highest quality and to expand the theatre's commitment to the community at large."

WaterTower Theatre's new season will commence on October 13th with the regional premiere of Pride and Prejudice by Kate Hamill, adapted from the novel Jane Austen, and directed by Joanie Schultz. Other season programming includes: The Great Distance Home (world premiere) conceived and directed Kelsey Leigh Ervi; Elliot, a Soldier's Story (regional premiere) by Quiara Alegría Hudes; Bread (world premiere) by ReGina Taylor; Jason Robert Brown's musical The Last Five Years; and Hand to God (regional premiere) by Robert Askins. The season will also include DETOUR, a four-day festival of new work in March 2018.

Founded in 1996, WaterTower Theatre (WTT) is one of Texas' leading professional theatre companies and one of the flagship arts institutions in North Texas, having played an important role as a leader in developing new talent and encouraging the growth of the DFW artistic community through its commitment to hiring local artists. Led by Artistic Director Joanie Schultz and Managing Director Nicholas Even, it is consistently recognized for its artistic excellence by the Dallas Theatre League, DFW Theatre Critics Forum, The Dallas Morning News, The Dallas Observer, D Magazine, and The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, among others. WaterTower Theatre has a subscription base of more than 2,000 subscribers and serves an audience of over 24,000 patrons annually.

WTT Alumni currently working on Broadway/Internationally include Akron Watson (The Color Purple), Brian Gonzales (One Man, Two Guvnors and Disney's Aladdin), Major Attaway (the new Genie in Disney's Aladdin), Cedric Neal (West End, Motown), Anthony Fortino (First National Tour, Fun Home), John Campione (First National Tour, The Bridges of Madison County), Traci Lee (First National Tour, Beautiful), Clinton Greenspan and Jeremy Davis (First National Tour, Disney's Aladdin), and in many regional theatres across the country. Respected local actors such as Denise Lee, Liz Mikel, Gary Lynn Floyd, Zak Reynolds, Kyle Igneczi, Diana Sheehan, Pam Dougherty, and Emily Scott Banks credit WTT for nurturing their professional careers.

WaterTower Theatre is 501(c)(3) non-profit organization as designate by the IRS. Like all arts organizations, WaterTower Theatre relies on both ticket income and donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, organization and government to produce world-class live professional theatre and offer community outreach and arts education programs. WaterTower Theatre gratefully acknowledges the support of The Town of Addison, TACA, Texas Commission on the Arts, The National Endowment for the Arts, and the Shubert Foundation. WaterTower Theatre is supported, in part, through the generosity of corporate, foundation and individual donors such as Atmos Energy, The Canterbury Family, Don and Barbara Daseke, Ben Fischer and Laree Hulshoff, FastSigns Carrollton, Paul and Norma Shultz, Frost Bank, Liberty Capital Bank, Mary Kay Inc., Janiece and Jimmy Niemann, The Nissan Foundation, Pinnacle, Slalom, Table 13, The Civic League, The President's Circle, the WaterTower Theatre Board of Directors, The Corporate Council, and Women of WaterTower Theatre.

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