Great Lakes Theater (GLT) is seeking candidates for the role of Executive Director. This appointment serves as the administrative leader of Cleveland’s preeminent classical theater and is also a key player in the unique collaborative producing model that has developed between GLT, Idaho Shakespeare Festival and Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival.
The position is based in Cleveland. The ED will provide entrepreneurial, flexible, and people-centered leadership for GLT, an organization dedicated to redefining, amplifying, and extending the definition of classic theater. The chosen candidate will have the ability to connect with and motivate a wide variety of people; will be equally at ease leading internally within the organization and as an external advocate and public face; and will have an open, transparent, collaborative leadership style.
They will have proven fundraising experience, including strategizing and soliciting gifts and mentoring and supporting the work of the Board and development staff; and a strong “can do” attitude with the ability to find joy even in challenging moments. Compelling candidates will bring expertise in the non-profit field, from strong financial and advancement acumen and strategic thinking to a human-centric and ethical leadership style and a commitment to community connection.
Excelling in a fast-paced environment, prioritizing duties and responding to the needs of others with flexibility, empathy and tenacity are key desired characteristics for GLT’s next Executive Director. Management Consultants for the Arts has been engaged to lead the search for the Executive Director of Great Lakes Theater. Interested candidates may apply for this position by visiting this link: https://www.mcaonline.com/searches/executive-director-glt
Organizational Profile
Founded in 1961 under the leadership of Arthur Lithgow, GLT has spent the last 40 years as Resident Company of Cleveland’s dynamic Playhouse Square, which also houses the largest subscription-series Broadway presenter in the country and other resident companies including Cleveland Ballet, the Cleveland International Film Festival, and Cleveland Playhouse. As part of a $20 million capital project in 2008, GLT renovated and took up permanent residence in the Hanna Theatre, a 550-seat proscenium house that serves as its mainstage; it also uses the 1,000-seat Mimi Ohio Theatre for its annual production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL.
In 2002, Great Lakes Theater (Cleveland, Ohio) and Idaho Shakespeare Festival (Boise, Idaho) conceived a strategic producing alliance designed to maximize return on organizational investments, increase production efficiencies, create long term work opportunities for artists and share best practices. In 2010, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival (Incline Village, Nevada) joined the alliance – further contributing to the momentum of the unique producing prototype’s success. Though all are led by the Producing Artistic Director and share many key staff members, GLT, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare and Idaho Shakespeare are three independent 501(c)(3) organizations with distinct Boards of Trustees. The theaters share jointly created productions, each featuring long- term, multi-city employment opportunities for artistic company members.
More about the GLT can be found at: https://www.greatlakestheater.org/