FreeFall Announces Additions To Growing Team

freeFall Theatre Company announced three exciting additions to the growing organization's staff. Joining the team are Amanda Chandler as Director of Development and Jen Brown as Patron Services Manager. Susan Haldeman stepped into the key role of Managing Director. Susan, Amanda, and Jen join Artistic Director Eric Davis and the rest of the freeFall team as they begin to prepare for the upcoming 2019/2020 season, which will mark 10 years as Tampa Bay's most exciting theatre company.

"freeFall is no longer a startup, and we're building a leadership team who will ensure the organization continues to evolve into a sustainable institution," said Cheryl Forchilli, president of freeFall's Board of Directors. "The skills and experience these three women possess make their appointments to our staff a pivotal move as we approach our 10th Anniversary Season."

Before coming to freeFall, Amanda worked for two years as the Major Gifts Officer at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota. Amanda also worked in development at Sarasota Opera and at Asolo Repertory Theater, the largest non-profit theatre in the Southeast. Amanda has an extensive background in musical theatre performance, theatre education, and nonprofit arts management. She received her MFA in Theatre Management/Non-profit Arts Administration from Florida State University in 2013.

Jen Brown relocated to St. Petersburg this summer after falling in love with the vibrant arts scene and welcoming community. With a background in both academia and non-profit arts administration, Jen has spent equal time in the classroom and working with theater audiences in box office ticketing. In Ithaca, NY, she managed consolidated box office services for a consortium of performing arts organizations while also training students in the Ithaca College Theater Arts Management program. For the past nine years she has been teaching college writing courses, including locally here at USF and HCC. Jen received her MFA from Bowling Green State University in 1999.

Susan Haldeman's promotion to Managing Director follows three years of serving as freeFall's Operations/Company Manager. Before she joined the freeFall team, she worked in both for-profit and non-profit theatre as an administrator, most recently at The Show Palace in Hudson, FL. She also has an extensive performance and stage management background and is a proud member of Actors' Equity Association. Susan is currently pursuing her MA in Human Services Administration at St. Leo University.

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