Industry Pro Newsletter: Leadership Shakeups Across the Country + Heidi Schreck Honored
Cate Blanchett heads to Oxford, the Jimmy Awards hit the Minskoff, and theaters from SF to Dayton name new leaders.
This week's newsletter is packed with leadership news, as theaters across the country — from San Francisco's Magic Theatre to Manhattan Theatre Club to the Cape Playhouse — announced new appointments and restructured their teams. We've also got honors for Heidi Schreck and Cate Blanchett, plus a reminder that the 17th Annual Jimmy Awards stream live from the Minskoff Theatre tonight!
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Director of Human Resources - Asolo Repertory Theatre
The Human Resources Director oversees the planning, development, and execution of all human resource functions at Asolo Repertory Theatre. This role ensures compliance with employment laws, fosters a positive and inclusive workplace culture, and aligns all HR practices with the organization’s mission, vision, and values. The Director serves as a strategic partner to leadership, shaping policies and practices that advance Asolo Rep’s commitment to artistic excellence and organizational sustainability.
Industry Trends
Heidi Schreck Receives Theater Masters' Standing Ovation Award
Theater Masters presented playwright, screenwriter, and actor Heidi Schreck with its Standing Ovation Award at a June 1st ceremony in New York City. Schreck is best known as the creator and star of What the Constitution Means to Me, which earned two Tony Award nominations and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama finalist nod, and has become one of the most frequently staged plays at regional theaters nationwide. Speakers at the ceremony included playwright Annie Baker, Maria Striar, Amy Rose Marsh, and Kip Fagan.
Broadway/New York
Watch the 17th Annual Jimmy Awards Live Tonight at 7:30pm ET
The 17th Annual Jimmy Awards, the national high school musical theatre talent showcase, will be held live at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre on June 22 and streamed for free online through June 25. Saturday Night Live cast member and Wicked film star Bowen Yang will host the ceremony, which features 116 student performers from regional programs across the country. A panel of judges will award prizes and scholarships, including Best Performance by an Actor and Best Performance by an Actress.
Scott Kaplan Named Associate Artistic Director at Manhattan Theatre Club
Manhattan Theatre Club has named Scott Kaplan as Associate Artistic Director, effective immediately. Kaplan, who joined MTC as an intern in 2010 and most recently served as Director of Play Development, will work closely with Artistic Director Nicki Hunter on programming future seasons and overseeing MTC's Artistic Development office. During his tenure, Kaplan played a major role in developing works including Jocelyn Bioh's Jaja's African Hair Braiding, Martyna Majok's Pulitzer Prize-winning Cost of Living, and Jonathan Spector's Tony-winning Eureka Day.
Regional
Magic Theatre Names New Artistic Director and Executive Leadership Team
San Francisco's Magic Theatre has announced a new shared leadership structure, naming Sarah Nina Hayon as Artistic Director, Daniel Duque-Estrada as Producing Director, and Joan Osato as Director of Sustainability and Growth. The trio succeeds departing Lead Director Sean San José, who has helmed the theatre since 2021 and will conclude his tenure at the end of June. Existing projects will proceed as planned, including new works from resident company Campo Santo, a premiere project led by Osato set to open in the fall, and collaborations with Lorraine Hansberry Theatre.
La Mirada Theatre Names Jason Daunter New Theatre Director
La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts has named Jason Daunter as its new Theatre Director, responsible for planning, organizing, and managing all aspects of the theatre, its rehearsal hall, and staff. Daunter brings 25 years of professional theatre experience, with Broadway and touring credits as a Production Stage Manager/Production Supervisor that include Wicked, To Kill a Mockingbird, West Side Story, and Chicago, among others. He has also served as Producing Director for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and Creative Director for the American Theatre Wing's Obie Awards.
Dayton Performing Arts Alliance Names Chandler Johnson Artistic Director of Dayton Opera
The Dayton Performing Arts Alliance (DPAA) has appointed Chandler Johnson as the next Artistic Director of Dayton Opera, with a three-year term beginning July 1, 2026. Johnson most recently served as Director of the Apprentice Program for Singers at Santa Fe Opera, and previously held artistic administration positions at Los Angeles Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and Stratagem Artists. He succeeds Kathleen Clawson, who announced her intent to step down in February 2026 after five years in the role; the company's 2026–27 season opens September 26 with West Side Story.
The Cape Playhouse Names Harold Wolpert Managing Director
The Cape Playhouse in Dennis, Massachusetts has appointed Harold Wolpert as its new Managing Director, joining Artistic Director Eric Rosen as the theater approaches its 2027 Centennial. Wolpert is a three-time Tony Award–winning producer and arts administrator who has previously led Roundabout Theatre Company, Manhattan Theatre Club, Signature Theatre, and Alley Theatre. He currently serves on the faculty of Yale's David Geffen School of Drama and will continue to operate his consulting firm, My Purple Crayon Advisors.
International
Cate Blanchett Appointed Cameron Mackintosh Visiting Professor of Contemporary Theatre
Cate Blanchett has been named the Cameron Mackintosh Visiting Professor of Contemporary Theatre at Oxford University for the 2026–27 academic year. The professorship, established in 1990 through a gift from Sir Cameron Mackintosh and hosted by St Catherine's College, has previously been held by Stephen Sondheim, Sir Ian McKellen, Arthur Miller, and Sir Tom Stoppard, among others. During her tenure, Blanchett will participate in conversations, lectures, and engagement with students and the wider University community.
Missed our last few newsletters?
The theater world never really slows down — and this week is proof. The Lost Boys dominated our Theater Fans' Choice Awards, sweeping nearly every musical category, while the Washington National Opera's legal battle with the Kennedy Center over $17 million in disputed funds continues to unfold. On a more hopeful note, Berkeley's beloved Aurora Theatre is planning its comeback after a year in the dark. All that, plus BroadwayWorld has launched a brand-new Producer Fantasy Game — so if you've ever thought you could pick the hits, now's your chance to prove it.
June 8, 2026 - The Tony Effect: Analyzing Post-Awards Ticket Data
Following the 79th Annual Tony Awards, this coverage examines the immediate impact of Broadway's biggest night, including data-driven insights into post-ceremony ticket sales and a recap of key event moments. Outside New York, the industry continues to navigate significant organizational shifts, featuring new leadership appointments at the Berkeley and Nottingham Playhouses and strategic developments at the Kennedy Center and Norwich Theatre, alongside reports of major financial milestones at Hartford Stage and the Overture Center.
June 1, 2026 - Kennedy Center Ruling, Broadway's Record Season & New York's $150M Tax Credit Boost
On the legal and legislative front, a federal judge ordered the removal of President Trump's name from the Kennedy Center and temporarily blocked its planned closure, while New York State added $150 million to its theatrical production tax credit program. Broadway closed out its 2025–2026 season with a new all-time box office record of $1.91 billion, and the Broadway League and Actors' Equity announced a new audition initiative called LEAP. Leadership transitions dominate the regional news, with changes at the Wilma Theater, Playhouse on Park, Ballet West, and Gloucester Stage Company. Rounding out the week: a Broadway-themed fan convention is headed to Las Vegas, Opera Australia reported a major financial turnaround in its 2025 annual report, and Stage One opened applications for its UK producer placement scheme.
BroadwayWorld Resources
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Add Your Show to our Regional Events Calendar
As audiences get set to return to in-person performances, and as your company works to market your own return to the stage, make sure you've got your upcoming shows in our regional events calendars. Listings are free of charge, with boosting options available. Get your show listed now
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