Stephen D. Rountree To Retire From Center Theatre Group

Stephen D. Rountree, Managing Director/CEO of Center Theatre Group, has announced that he will retire on March 31, 2019.

Rountree joined Center Theatre Group as Managing Director in 2015 after serving as President and CEO of The Music Center from 2002 to 2014. Rountree was also CEO of the Los Angeles Opera from 2008 to 2012, a position he held concurrently with his role at The Music Center.

"For 40 years I have had the great privilege to be in senior executive positions at four of Los Angeles' leading arts organizations, including Center Theatre Group," said Rountree. "I will turn 70 next March, and I feel this is the time to step aside and allow myself to spend more time with my wife, children and grandchildren."

"I want to express the Board of Directors' gratitude for Steve's unflagging efforts to steward Center Theatre Group into a 21st-century organization," said Center Theatre Group Board President Kiki Ramos Gindler. "We'll be forever indebted to Steve for his work on behalf of our organization, as well as the many insights he has brought to the boardroom since he came to Center Theatre Group in January 2015."

"I've known Steve for more than a decade and have greatly admired working with him directly over the past three years," said Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie. "It was clear from the moment Steve moved from The Music Center to Center Theatre Group that he was ready to help steer our organization toward a more robust future, including offering his strategic guidance through our 50th anniversary celebration. He continues to be one of the great leaders in the nonprofit cultural scene, and I've been proud to call him a colleague and friend. While I'm sad to see him leave, Steve wanting to spend more time with his family is completely admirable and well deserved. I look forward to working with him in the coming months as we look to find the next visionary business leader to continue elevating Center Theatre Group for years to come."