Maltz Jupiter Theatre's Andrew Kato Promoted to Producing Artistic Director

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre's board of directors has promoted the Theatre's artistic director, Andrew Kato, to producing artistic director.

"Due to his exceptional strength as both an artist and a producer, we are giving Mr. Kato a title that more accurately represents his contribution to our Theatre," said Milton Maltz, founder and chairman of the Theatre's board of directors. "He is an accomplished leader who has led the growth of the Theatre to become one of Florida's preeminent professional regional theatres, and he remains committed to performance, production and education through the Theatre's collaborations with local and national artists."

Now in his seventh year at the Theatre, Kato has produced more than 35 of the Theatre's productions. Under his vision, the Theatre has grown to become the state's largest award-winning regional theatre, serving over 70,000 people annually and more than 7,000 subscribers (up from 2,300 when he started). The Theatre was recently nominated for 25 Carbonell Awards, South Florida's highest honor for artistic excellence.

Kato said he has placed much emphasis on building a stellar reputation for the Theatre and hiring a strong, experienced team. Within the past three years, he has helped to hire staff that includes director of operations Dave Harris, who managed Broadway productions and first national touring productions, and production manager Clayton Phillips, who previously worked on Tony Award®-winning Broadway shows and served as Hal Prince's assistant.

"Our Theatre is a producing organization. We create each of our Broadway-caliber season shows from scratch, and much of the credit goes to our first-class staff who realize the vision of our visiting artists," Kato said. "I am very proud to continue to lead the artistic vision of this Theatre's production of classic musicals and dramatic works, as well as the development of new artists through our Theatre and its Paul and Sandra Goldner Conservatory of Performing Arts."

Kato holds frequent auditions in New York, Chicago and Florida and assembles casts of nationally-recognized artists for the Theatre's shows, including world-renowned director Frank Galati for the drama Twelve Angry Men. For the Theatre's current production of Hello, Dolly!, he recruited Tony®-nominated director and choreographer Marcia Milgrom Dodge, along with its stars: Broadway veteran Vicki Lewis and Tony® winner Gary Beach.

Having worked as an independent producer in New York for the last 14 years, Kato continues to serve as a producer for the annual Tony Awards® in New York and has served as executive producer of the last five Muse Awards in West Palm Beach, where he recently received the Council's Choice Award.

Kato's passion for the creation of new work led the Theatre to create its Emerging Artists Series (EAS) in Musical Theatre Playwriting, made possible through grants from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fund and the Roy A. Hunt Foundation. Through the series, Kato conceived and directed the award-winning musical Academy for the New York Musical Theatre Festival, which went on to win Best Musical at South Korea's Daegu International Musical Festival and received its world premiere at the Theatre in 2010.

In addition, the Theatre commissioned the world premiere of Fanny Brice: The Real Funny Girl, which became one of several world premieres at the Theatre (including Academy, Tin Pan Alley Rag and Jolson at the Winter Garden!) to be produced by other regional theatres following their success.

Kato, who grew up in Tequesta, said he holds a strong belief in the Theatre's Conservatory and the power of education – particularly because his first producing experience was on the very stage he leads today. In his early 20s – while working at the Burt Reynolds Dinner Theatre during the 1980's – he conceived and produced his first musical, Switch!

"A solid foundation in education and hands-on experience are the keys to success in the Theatre world," he said. "I believe in creating those opportunities for our youth through the world-class facilities at our Conservatory."

Kato attended FAU for business and received his theatre degree from Florida State University.

The news of his promotion comes at the heels of much good news for the Theatre, which recently announced a $10 million endowment campaign and will celebrate its 10th anniversary season in 2012/13.

About the Maltz Jupiter Theatre
In only nine seasons, the Maltz Jupiter Theatre has become one of Florida's preeminent professional theatres, committed to production and education through its collaborations with local and national artists. Currently the state's largest award-winning regional theatre, the Theatre draws over 70,000 people annually, serves a subscription base of more than 7,000 and has world-class classroom facilities in support of its Paul and Sandra Goldner Conservatory of Performing Arts, which serves hundreds of youth and adults. The Theatre is a member of the prestigious League of Resident Theatres and has earned numerous Carbonell Awards, South Florida's highest honor for artistic excellence. For more information about the Theatre's upcoming shows and Conservatory, visit www.jupitertheatre.org or call the box office at (561) 575-2223.

To post a comment, you must register and login.