Public Appoints Andrew Hamingson New Executive Director

The Public Theater announced today that Andrew Hamingson has been appointed the new Executive Director of The Public Theater, beginning October 1, 2008.  Hamingson, the Managing Director of the Atlantic Theater Company since 2004, replaces Mara Manus who announced in April that she would be stepping down at the end of the season after six years as Executive Director.

"This is an exciting time in the growth and development of The Public Theater," said Chairman of the Board Warren Spector. "Our new Executive Director will work alongside Artistic Director Oskar Eustis to continue to make The Public Theater one of the most important and diverse theaters in the country.  The search committee did an extensive search for Ms. Manus' replacement and we unanimously chose Andrew Hamingson from a field of extraordinary candidates for his strong leadership abilities, successful fundraising experience and deep commitment to the American theater."

"I am delighted to welcome Andy as a partner to The Public Theater," said Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis. "Throughout this rigorous and highly competitive search process, his intelligence, passion and integrity made a deep impression on me and on all the Board members. His love of theater and his humanity are also apparent to anyone who spends time with him, and I am certain that we can achieve great things for The Public Theater. It is a good day on Astor Place."

"It is the fulfillment of a life-long dream to have been chosen for the Executive Director position at The Public Theater," said Andrew Hamingson.  "There is no theater in our country with a richer history.  Their dedication to producing new work by today's finest playwrights and presenting Shakespeare at the highest level is second to none.  I look forward to applying my 20 years of professional theater management and fundraising experience at this esteemed institution in partnership with Oskar Eustis, the staff, and the Board of Directors.

Andrew Hamingson has been Atlantic Theater Company's Managing Director since August 2004 where he currently oversees all administrative and fiscal matters, including institutional development, Board recruitment, budgeting, marketing and fundraising.  In addition, he oversaw the negotiations, planning and construction of Atlantic's new state of the art $6 million theater complex on West 16th Street and has been leading the team to renovate Atlantic's 20th St. main stage theater. In 2006 Atlantic Theater Company transferred Spring Awakening and The Lieutenant of Inishmore to Broadway—the first time in over 20 years that a not for profit had transferred back to back shows to Broadway.  On both occasions, Atlantic Theater Company (ATC) was a full Producer for the Broadway productions and Hamingson represented ATC as part of that management/producing partnerships.

Prior to Atlantic, he was Manhattan Theatre Club's Director of Development for five years.  While at MTC, he managed all aspects of the annual fundraising campaign, including Board development and strategic planning. In addition to the $8 million annual fund, he was responsible for raising $35 million for the Capital Campaign for the renovation of the historic Biltmore Theater.  Beyond his fundraising responsibilities, Hamingson helped to redesign the new facility and led the team to create operational policies at the Biltmore. Prior to being named Director, he was Deputy Director of Development, and Associate Director of Development at MTC for seven years.

THE PUBLIC THEATER was founded by Joseph Papp in 1954 as the Shakespeare Workshop and is now one of the nation's preeminent cultural institutions, producing new plays, musicals, productions of Shakespeare, and other classics at its headquarters on Lafayette Street and at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park.  The Public's mandate to create a theater for all New Yorkers continues to this day on stage and through its extensive outreach and education programs. Each year, over 250,000 people attend Public Theater-related productions and events at six downtown stages, including Joe's Pub, and Shakespeare in the Park. The Public has won 41 Tony Awards, 145 Obies, 39 Drama Desk Awards, 24 Lucille Lortel Awards and 4 Pulitzer Prizes.

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