Obie Award-winning Off-Off-Broadway theatre company HERE has named Lesley Hunter its first-ever managing director. The appointment follows a restructuring at the company that followed the departures of Producing Director Meredith Lynsey Schade and Director of External Affairs Brenna Thomas.
Hunter, who succeeds both Schade and Thomas, will be part of a new leadership model for the company with Artistic Director Kristin Marting.
“This is an amazing turning point for all of us,” says Hunter in a statement. “I am excited to take on this new leadership role with HERE and to have an opportunity to match my passion for supporting the arts with such a stellar organization, and in the company of such great artists.”
A longtime arts educator, Hunter comes to HERE following work with BAM, Arts Administrators of Color Network, Black Curators Dance Performance, and Arts and Education Roundtable.
Founded in 1993, HERE counts 18 Obies, two Bessies, five Drama Desk nominations, two Pulitzer Prizes, four Doris Duke Awards, seven Tony nominations, and two MacArthur Fellowships among the accolades awarded to its productions and the artists it has supported. Among the company's production history are The Vagina Monologues, The Lily's Revenge, all wear bowlers, Songs of the Dragons Flying to Heaven, and Disposable Men.