Non-profit TDF has named entertainment lawyer H. Gwen Marcus as its new chair of the board of trustees, succeeding current Chair Earl D. Weiner. Marcus leads the board after joining it in 2007 and subsequently serving as vice chair and chair of the committee of trustees. She's also been a member of the executive committee and the audit committee, and served on the ad hoc task force during the pandemic.
"We are fortunate that Gwen Marcus is taking over the reins as TDF Board Chair," shares Weiner. "Her long service on the TDF board, her successful career as a lawyer in the entertainment field, her passion for theatre, her communications skills, and her sense of humor make her the ideal choice. She has been a key leader of the board for many years and will bring great energy, enthusiasm, and skill to her new role. I look forward to continuing to serve on the TDF board under her leadership and to working with the visionary Victoria Bailey and the extraordinary and dedicated staff of TDF."
"I’m honored to be named TDF board chair and am proud to lead one of the most respected performing arts service organizations in the country, which makes live theatre, dance, and music accessible to millions of people each year," adds Marcus. "I have loved TDF for decades, starting in high school when I’d take the train from Long Island and go straight to the TKTS Booth in Times Square. TDF has come a long way since then, and under Earl’s leadership we’ve grown in every area—from the introduction of a new TKTS Booth in Lincoln Center, to the expansion of our existing Education and Accessibility programs, including the acclaimed Wendy Wasserstein Project for NYC public school students, to our launch of new initiatives offering life-changing performances to veterans, seniors, and families with members on the autism spectrum. As the beneficiaries of Earl’s wise counsel throughout the pandemic that brought live theatre to a standstill, we successfully made it to the other side. We are indebted to Earl for his many contributions, and I look forward to building on that legacy."
Marcus spent much of her career as executive vice president and general counsel for Showtime Networks Inc. and was a member of New York law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Warton, and Garrison before that. Along with her work with TDF, Marcus serves on the advisory board of Women in Law Empowerment Forum.
"It has been wonderful to work with Gwen since she joined TDF’s board 15 years ago," says TDF Executive Director Victoria Bailey. "She has been an active and engaged member and has shown consistent leadership, whether as part of a committee or at the full board table. During her tenure, she has developed a clear understanding of and commitment to TDF’s mission to make the power of the performing arts accessible to everyone. Gwen knows the many communities we serve and the performing arts ecosystem here in New York City and beyond. And, of course, Gwen is a passionate theatre lover. She is a thoughtful and engaging collaborator and I look forward to continuing to work with her as board chair as TDF emerges from the challenges posed by the pandemic. Happily, for all of us at TDF, Earl will continue to serve on our board, where his wealth of knowledge and experience continue to be priceless as we move forward.”
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