Tacoma Musical Playhouse Names Lexi Barnett Executive Producer

Tacoma Musical Playhouse (TMP), the South Sound's premier community musical theater and a cherished regional institution since 1994, announced that Lexi Barnett has been appointed as its new Executive Producer, effective September 8, 2026. Barnett brings more than 15 years of leadership experience across the nonprofit and arts sectors to the role.

Barnett was selected following a national executive search led by Management Consultants for the Arts, a firm specializing in executive leadership searches for nonprofit arts organizations.

'We are thrilled to welcome Lexi to the TMP family,' said Lisa Nunn, President of the TMP Board of Directors. 'Her deep commitment to community-centered storytelling and her proven track record of expanding audience engagement align perfectly with our mission to celebrate the uniquely American art form of musical theater right here in the South Sound.'

Barnett's career has spanned arts leadership, nonprofit administration, program development, and community engagement. Her arts leadership experience includes serving as Artistic Director of Broadway Olympia, Program Director of KidCo. Productions, and Program Director of TMP Family Theater. Most recently, she served as Director of Discipleship Programs at University Place Presbyterian Church, where she provided strategic and operational leadership for large-scale programs serving the congregation and broader community. Across these roles, Barnett has focused on developing people and programs, supporting creative teams, strengthening organizations, and creating meaningful opportunities for people to engage in community.

'TMP holds a special place in the hearts of so many in our community, and it certainly holds a special place in mine,' Barnett said. 'I am passionate about creating a theater that is artistically excellent, deeply connected to its community, and welcoming to everyone who walks through its doors. I want to build on the incredible foundation that Jon Douglas Rake & Jeffrey Stvrtecky created here while expanding opportunities for audiences, artists, and the next generation of theater lovers. I am honored to steward TMP into its next chapter and excited about what we can create together.'

A Tacoma native, Barnett has deep roots in the South Sound arts community, and her appointment represents a homecoming to an organization that has been woven into her family's story for years. TMP is where Barnett met her husband, Steve, who later served as TMP's Education Director and performed in numerous leading roles on the mainstage. Their daughters, Hazel and Juniper, have also grown up with TMP, with both girls performing through Camp TMP and Hazel on the mainstage last fall. As Barnett steps into this new role, she and her family are excited to make this next chapter part of their family's Tacoma story.

Barnett succeeds TMP Founder Jon Douglas Rake, who passed away unexpectedly in December 2025. Rake and co-founder Jeffrey Stvrtecky served as leaders of TMP for 32 years. Under their leadership, TMP grew its annual operating budget to $2 million while maintaining its commitment to delivering the very best musical theater in the region.

About Tacoma Musical Playhouse

Founded in 1994, Tacoma Musical Playhouse is the largest nonprofit musical theater in Washington State outside of Seattle. Dedicated to producing professional-quality musicals with local performers, TMP serves more than 40,000 patrons each season and provides vital arts education programming for youth and adults. As a community pillar, TMP strives to enrich the community through exceptional musical theater experiences that inspire, cultivate creativity, and foster lifelong learning. Through accessible performances, educational programs, and meaningful opportunities for artists, audiences, and learners, TMP builds an inclusive community where people of all ages can grow, belong, and thrive through the transformative power of musical theater.