Theatre Under The Stars Welcomes Hillary Hart as New Executive Director

After an extensive ten-month national search, Theatre Under The Stars announced today the formal appointment of the nonprofit musical theatre company's new Executive Director, Hillary Hart.

In addition to Dave Clemmons as Dean of the Humphreys School of Musical Theatre (HSMT), Jeff Cleveland as the Director of Marketing and Brand Strategy, Melissa Edwards as the Director of Business Development and Community Relations, Jack Jacobs as Director of Production, Carol Ostlind-Thornburg as Chief Development Officer, and Joel Szulc as Director of Finance, Hart joins Artistic Advisor Sheldon Epps to complete the new TUTS leadership team.

TUTS Chair of the Board Amy Pierce says, "We are beyond thrilled to welcome Hillary to the TUTS family, and to Houston in general. This is such an exciting time for our city and for this very special organization, and we have found the very best team to lead TUTS into the future. With her experience and expertise, Ms. Hart is the perfect complement to support the bold artistic vision of Sheldon Epps - we can't wait to see the remarkable things they will accomplish together."

Hart comes to TUTS having served as the General Manager of the esteemed Guthrie Theatre, a $28 million nonprofit regional theater Minneapolis.

At the Guthrie, Hart helped steward the institution through a significant cultural transition focusing on equity, diversity, and inclusion to deepen community engagement, expand programming, and consistently operate with balanced budgets.

Hart says, "Though I leave behind a respected, dynamic team of collaborators and artists at the Guthrie, the opportunity to work alongside the talented, dedicated staff and Board of TUTS is an immense privilege I eagerly embrace. At this watershed moment for the organization and for our industry, we have an opportunity to reflect the legacy of this valued institution while meaningfully broadening our social impact and remaining a palpably important contributor to the lives of our most important stakeholders - the community we serve. I am eager to bring my family to Houston and become part of that community."

Prior to her work at the Guthrie, Hart served as Managing Director of Flat Rock Playhouse located in Flat Rock, North Carolina, where she was able to stabilize the financial and operational areas of the organization to increase earned and contributed revenue by 9% and 48% respectively. Her work also included a significant restructuring and re-engagement of the Board of Directors, a comprehensive look at community engagement, marketing and re-branding efforts. All of this resulted in a significant shift from an approximate $256,000 operating deficit in 2012 to a $238,000 operating surplus in 2013.

Previously, Hart was the former General Manager at Dallas Theater Center where she enjoyed seven years of producing contemporary, classic, and world-premiere productions.

Sheldon Epps says, "Hillary and I have worked at many of the same theatres over the years (though, alas, not at the same time). So, I recognize and celebrate the wealth of experience that she brings to TUTS and know that the company will benefit greatly from her knowledge, her passion for the theatre, and her desire to be of service to TUTS as it grows and evolves in the near and far future. I look forward to working with her, and I feel sure that this will be a mutually beneficial relationship that will bring rewards to her, to TUTS, and to the Houston community."

The national search for TUTS' Executive Director was conducted by Albert Hall & Associates, a full service consulting and executive search firm providing support to many of America's most prestigious nonprofit arts organizations from its offices in Connecticut and California.

Photo Credit: Scott Treadway

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