David P. Thiele Is the New Managing Director of David H. Koch Theater

New York City Ballet announced today that David P. Thiele has been appointed Managing Director of the David H. Koch Theater, and he will begin his position on July 27, 2015. Thiele, who has spent nearly 30 years working in the performing arts world, has been the Vice President of Facilities and Operations at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia since 2009.

As Managing Director of the David H. Koch Theater, Thiele will be responsible for the theater's oversight and management, including day-to-day business operations, construction and maintenance, front-of-house and customer service, and rental and client relations for the 2500-seat venue. The management and operations of the David H. Koch Theater are overseen by the New York City Ballet.

A graduate of the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University with a BFA in Theater Design, Thiele joined the staff of the Kimmel Center as Production Manager in 2001, was promoted to Senior Production Manager in 2005, and Director of Production in 2007. In July 2009, he was appointed the Kimmel Center's Vice President of Facilities and Operations, and was responsible for all facilities operations on the Kimmel Center campus, including four performance venues -- Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, The Philadelphia Academy of Music, and Merriam Theater. Prior to working at the Kimmel Center, Thiele also held operations and production positions at such organizations as the Intiman Theater Company in Seattle, WA; the Garden State Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ; and Temple University in Philadelphia, PA.

The David H. Koch Theater, which was originally named the New York State Theater, opened its doors on April 23, 1964 and was the second venue to open on the Lincoln Center campus. Designed by the renowned architect Philip Johnson especially for George Balanchine and the New York City Ballet, the theater was also home to the New York City Opera from 1966 to 2012. Today the David H. Koch Theater is considered one of this country's premiere destinations for dance, and features 21 weeks of performances by the New York City Ballet each year, as well as annual engagements by an international roster of many of the world's most acclaimed dance companies.

The Travelers Companies, Inc. is the Global Sponsor of New York City Ballet.