Center Theatre Group Selects Stephen D. Rountree as New Managing Director

Stephen D. Rountree has been named the new Managing Director at Center Theatre Group of Los Angeles, one of the largest and most active theatre companies in the country, it was announced today by William H. Ahmanson, President of the CTG board of directors.

Rountree has served as the President and CEO of The Music Center for almost 12 years (beginning in 2002) and held the position of CEO of the Los Angeles Opera concurrently from 2008-2012. He will begin his new role at CTG on January 2, 2015.

Rountree will work in close collaboration with CTG Artistic Director Michael Ritchie on all aspects of the institution, and supervise the management, financial, marketing, development, technology and human resources departments at CTG.

"The Music Center is a dynamic destination for performing arts in Los Angeles," said Ahmanson. "Steve will be able to apply his management skills and depth of Music Center knowledge at Center Theatre Group in a way that will be unique in the history of this campus."

"This is a great choice, not only for Center Theatre Group, but for all of Los Angeles," said Ritchie. "I have known Steve for 10 years and I greatly admire his strong leadership here at The Music Center. He has this wonderful ability to bring people together and to get the job done. He was instrumental in the opening of Walt Disney Concert Hall in 2003, in the major renovation of the Mark Taper Forum in 2008, and the opening of Grand Park in 2012. Steve is the person you want on your team, and I look forward to our new partnership with him."

"CTG is a vital artistic organization for The Music Center and for Los Angeles, a company with a rich history and a wonderful future ahead," Rountree said. "After having such a rewarding experience with The Music Center, I am excited by this opportunity to partner with my colleague Michael Ritchie and the CTG board in order to continue CTG's artistic leadership, locally and nationally. It is a chance for me to move from the broad responsibilities at The Music Center to a deeper engagement with a great theatre company. I have long been devoted to dramatic literature and the theatre. My experiences with the business and management side of the performing and visual arts make this position especially interesting."

Edward L. Rada, who is CTG's current Managing Director, is departing CTG at the end of December. Rada informed Ritchie and the CTG board of directors last spring that he was not renewing his contract.