The Alliance for Jewish Theatre Hires New Executive Director

The Alliance for Jewish Theatre (AJT), the only international organization promoting Jewish theatre worldwide, has hired Oregon-based theatre director, arts administrator, teacher, and arts advocate Willow Jade Norton as its new Executive Director. Willow will begin her tenure on June 1, 2022, and will helm the organization which serves close to 200 members (made up of individual artists and organizations) to whom it offers year-round programming, an annual conference, a young theatre-makers' cohort (the "TheatreMachers") and other initiatives.

Willow has a proven track record of creating growth while maintaining equity and accessibility. She brings to her new position a decade of experience across a wide range of artistic and administrative roles. Willow has a Masters in Nonprofit Management & Arts Management from the University of Oregon and was a founding Board Member and Vice President of ArtCity Oregon. Willow is a certified Teaching Artist for Tectonic Theater Project's Moment Work technique. She also worked as Associate Treasurer at The Shubert Theatre for Matilda: The Musical on Broadway. She is a founding member of Moderate Woo, a feminist theatre collective.

As an independent artist, Willow has directed plays, musicals and operas on both coasts of the U.S., including eight world premieres. She received an Oregon Arts Commission Grant, a Lane Arts Council Project Grant, and the Colleen Toohey Porter Theater for Young Audiences USA Fellowship. Most recently, she was awarded an American Leadership Forum of Oregon 2022/2023 Fellowship (where she will strengthen her leadership skills and community cultural development practices).

"Willow Jade Norton is a thrilling, dynamic, and visionary new leader for the Alliance for Jewish Theatre," says Adam Immerwahr, Artistic Director of Theater J and the chair of the AJT Executive Director Search Committee. "Her passion for theatre, her incredible energy, and her terrific skill set make her the perfect person to lead the next generation of Jewish theatre and Jewish theatre-makers forward."

"I have always worked to facilitate exquisite theatre that meets the moment and amplifies underrepresented voices," says Willow, "but now I am an active catalyst for the development of theatre with a Jewish sensibility. I believe that the Jewish lens can shift the culture to make a kinder and more compassionate world. Personally, embracing Judaism in my life has made me a better human; a better artist, a better mother, a better community member."

Willow's current and former collaborators were quick to offer praise for AJT's new hire. "Willow is a compassionate and enthusiastic artist, teacher, and administrator," says Brian Haimbach, Lead Theatre Faculty at Lane Community College. "Her high standards and commitment to live theatre are inspiring."

Sarah Greenman, co-founder along with Willow of Moderate Woo, notes the many layers Willow brings to everything she does. Speaking to the kind of leader Willow will be for AJT, Greenman notes that she is "rooted in a core framework of justice and radical inclusion. She weaves joy, connection, and purpose into all of her community building work."

Willow's most recent work was directing a National New Play Network (NNPN) rolling world-premiere of Audrey Cefaly's Alabaster at Oregon Contemporary Theatre. Speaking to the kind of support AJT's many playwright members can expect to find in their new Executive Director, Cefaly notes, "Willow is a triple threat in the rehearsal room. Her attention to detail, her humility and care, make her an incredible gift to playwrights."

Along with Willow's entry as Executive Director, AJT also welcomes a new Acting President of the Board of Directors, Jesse Bernstein. Bernstein previously served as Secretary of the Board of AJT and is also the in-coming Artistic Director of Philadelphia's Theatre Ariel. Hank Kimmel - whose term would have ended in November - shifts into the role of Immediate Past-President and will remain on AJT's Board and Executive Committee, serving as Chair of the Fundraising and Membership Outreach committees.

"Hank has been Board President through some of the most exciting and transformative times this organization has seen," says Bernstein, who offers plenty of praise for his predecessor. "He has been and will continue to be AJT's biggest cheerleader. With Willow's hiring and Hank's term ending soon, the Board of Directors saw this moment as an opportune one to make a shift. I am grateful to Hank for all he has done for AJT and all he has taught me. I am honored the Board has entrusted me with this responsibility. I am even more delighted to be able to support Willow as she navigates AJT's future and to work with her in engaging our membership in new and exciting ways."

As to engaging with members, Willow is clear on the style of her approach. "This moment needs artistic leadership that is flexible, resourceful, and vulnerable to radical listening," she says. "I am thrilled to be working with the staff, board, and members of AJT in this role of Executive Director at this moment. I am honored and proud to take part in this new era of leadership. I look forward to connecting with members and facilitating experiences that activate the core of AJT's mission. This is where I want to be."