Southern Rep Appoints Several New Staff Members

Southern Rep Theatre announces the appointment of new staff and the establishment of several positions as the company undertakes for its 31st Mainstage season in 2017-18 and its move to a permanent venue in 2018-19.

Charlotte D'Ooge has joined the company as its first Director of Philanthropy, effective August 1, 2017. She has over ten years of fundraising experience in New Orleans and Washington, D.C. and most recently served as Development Director for the ACLU Louisiana. In her capacity, D'Ooge works closely with the Southern Rep Theatre Board of Directors to oversee the company's Annual Fund as well as its Capital Campaign for the buildout of its future permanent home in the historic former St. Rose de Lima church building on Bayou Road, New Orleans.

Kaylene Torregrossa takes over an expanded role as the company's first Patron Services Coordinator. Torregrossa, a six-year veteran of Florida Studio Theatre, brings a wealth of customer service and management experience to the Southern Rep box office. The new position of Patron Services Coordinator encompasses traditional box office responsibilities as well as management of associates and volunteers and extensive special event and fundraising support.

Jenny Windstrup moves into a new position as Director of Communications and Strategic Partnerships, focusing on internal and external communications to support all programs, including ticket sales, development, education, and engagement activities.

Producing Artistic Director Aimée Hayes, Southern Rep's executive leader, says, "The Board of Directors and I can't wait to work with the entire staff to make this a fantastic season and to bring us 'home' at last to our new venue next year. We are thrilled to welcome Charlotte and Kaylene! They are a great addition to the Southern Rep team, which has grown significantly in the past two years to include a full-time Director of Arts Education and a Producer of Artistic & Community Engagement. With the specialized skills and well-rounded experience of our entire staff, we are finally able to separate marketing and fundraising functions into distinct positions, as well as to take our patron services to the next level. It's a great step forward for us on our path to Bayou Road."

For more information about Southern Rep or the Southern Rep Theatre staff, visit southernrep.com/people.

ABOUT CHARLOTTE D'OOGE, DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY - Charlotte D'Ooge has held various leadership positions in the non-profit sector before joining Southern Rep as the Director of Philanthropy in 2017. She has served as the Development Director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana as well as the Development & Communications Director at the Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana (JJPL). Prior to joining JJPL she worked for the Newcomb College Center for Research on Women at Tulane University. Charlotte began her career in fundraising in Washington, D.C. as a Major Gifts Associate at Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. Originally from D.C., Charlotte is proud to have called New Orleans home for over fifteen years. She holds a MA from the University of Manchester and a BA from Tulane University. She is also a founding board member of BreakOUT! and currently serves on the board of Forum for Equality.

ABOUT KAYLENE TORREGROSSA, PATRON SERVICES COORDINATOR - Kaylene Torregrossa hails from Tucson, Arizona and received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from the University of Arizona, focusing on dramaturgy, directing, and grassroots theatre. Before moving to New Orleans, she spent six years in sunny Sarasota, Florida, serving the audiences of Florida Studio Theatre. There, she oversaw customer service operations for one of the largest regional theatres in the country, serving over 200,000 patrons annually, working closely with executive staff on day-to-day operations, as well as the execution of festivals and fundraising events. She also facilitated the communication, training, and scheduling of a volunteer program of over 500+ and pioneered the company's special event rental & catering program from the ground up. Passionate about facilitating good art and making theatre accessible for all, Kaylene is excited to be joining the Southern Rep team as the company's Patron Services Coordinator.

ABOUT JENNY WINDSTRUP, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS - An arts administrator with over a decade of varied non-profit experience, Jenny Windstrup joined Southern Rep in 2015 as the company's Managing Director. Prior to moving to New Orleans in 2007, she worked in the production department of Washington National Opera and then spent six seasons with New Orleans Opera Association as Director of Development. A graduate of St. John's College, Maryland, she is an active volunteer for New Orleans-based chamber music ensemble New Resonance Orchestra and has served on the board of New Orleans Friends of Music since 2011.

Now in its 31st Season, Southern Rep Theatre produces award-winning productions that are engaging, educational, and accessible for audiences of every socioeconomic background. Under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Aimée Hayes, SouthernRep Theatre's Mainstage Season work includes bold World and Regional Premieres as well as the best of Broadway, off-Broadway, and classic plays. Southern Rep Theatre's Lagniappe Series and "School to Stage Pipeline" of Arts Education Programs reflect the company's ongoing commitment to new play development by providing resources for students and burgeoning theatre professionals and supporting a more diverse theatre community. A mainstay of New Orleans' arts community, Southern Rep Theatre continues to build on its unique position as a sector leader, creative force, and important resource for contemporary American theatre.

For more information about Southern Rep or to purchase tickets, visit www.southernrep.com or call the box office at 504-522-6545. Southern Rep Theatre is also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @southern_rep.

To post a comment, you must register and login.