Under Ellis’s
leadership the theatre has grown to be one the most active venues in all of
Western North Carolina. He created the Mainstage Series of touring artists
while also making the theatre a welcome home to many local arts groups. He
has also developed a strong board of directors and a dedicated staff, making
Diana Wortham Theatre a cornerstone of the cultural life in the area.
Ellis shared, “With my upcoming retirement, the Board of
Directors has planned a phased transition process to support our theatre’s
growth. I look forward to working
closely with Rae and also focusing on the upgrades to our theatre and
development of additional venues.”
Geoffrey has
a long background in theatre, community outreach, and arts
management. She was hired in 2001 as the Director of Outreach, creating a
successful education series serving 10,000 students each year, establishing the
Y.E.S. (Youth Education Scholarship) Fund, and building a solid volunteer
core. She was promoted to Associate Director in 2008 and in that role
oversees staff management, organizational planning, and artistic
programming. She has worked closely with Ellis to lead the theatre through
its “Vision for the Future” Project to create and implement an organizational
vision and plan.
Geoffrey’s leadership has been recognized by peers
and colleagues who recently elected her as Board President of the North
Carolina Presenters Consortium, a state-wide trade organization of presenting
theatres across North Carolina and neighboring states, with more than 200
members including theatres, agents and managers.
“John’s
contribution to our organization has been invaluable and his leadership has
made us what we are today and we cannot thank him enough. We are very
fortunate to have another great leader within our organization who can lead us
forward for the next 20 years. Rae’s experience here at Diana Wortham Theatre
over the past 15 years has prepared her to take the helm when John retires, and
I can speak for the board to say we are all excited to have such a highly
qualified, competent, and passionate new leader in 2017," notes Hardy
Holland, Board President of the theatre.
The Diana Wortham Theatre presents entertaining,
enlightening, and enriching programs to residents of, and visitors to,
Asheville and western North Carolina with live performances of music, theatre, dance
and more by nationally touring artists (the Mainstage Series) as well as a wide
array of performances and events by more than 35 professional and avocational
regional arts groups.
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