The Vineyard Theatre has announced that Suzanne Appel will take on the role of managing director beginning January 17; she will help run the Off-Broadway theatre alongside artistic directors Douglas Aibel and Sarah Stern. The announcement follows the September 2016 departure of executive producer Jennifer Garvey-Blackwell, who was with the company for 19 years.
Appel joins the company after a year at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, where she served as the director of external affairs. Prior to her role at Hubbard Street, she served as managing director at Cutting Ball Theater in San Francisco, where she nearly doubled the organization’s operating budget and built a two-plus month operating reserve in four years.
Her previous roles include director of individual giving at Dance Theater Workshop in New York City, associate managing director at Yale Repertory Theater in New Haven, management fellow at Berkeley Repertory Theater, and assistant director of the Annual Fund at Wesleyan University.
“I’m honored to have the opportunity to join the Vineyard Theatre,” said Appel in a statement. “The Vineyard has had a profound impact through the years, developing and launching so many incredible new plays and musicals. I am looking forward to working with Doug and Sarah and with the Vineyard's Board of Directors, staff and artists to advance the company's mission to nurture artists and bold new work. As a native New Yorker, I'm also thrilled to be coming home to this wonderful community.“
“Suzanne is a gifted, forward-thinking and dynamic arts leader who has developed a great record of accomplishment in her previous positions at major arts organizations across the country. We are looking forward to a fruitful partnership with her at this exciting time in the Vineyard’s life,” commented Aibel and Stern.
The Vineyard is currently in rehearsals for its upcoming production of Kid Victory, the new musical from Chicago composer John Kander and writer Greg Pierce, with direction by Tony nominee Liesl Tommy. Performances will begin February 1 prior to a February 22 opening.
Scroll through photos of the cast and creative team meeting the press:
For more information visit Vineyardtheatre.org.
