Jennifer Sultz Resigns as Executive Director of Piven Theatre

Piven Theatre Workshop announced today that Jennifer Sultz has resigned her position as Executive Director. Having given her notice to the Board of Directors in January, Sultz will conclude her 15 year tenure on June 30, 2010.

During Sultz' tenure, Piven Theatre Workshop has enjoyed substantial artistic and financial growth and success. Under her leadership, the theatre expanded its programming to serve 1,500 students annually and launched an Equity subscription series, now entering its 12th year. Numerous outreach and residency programs were developed including one, now in its 8th year, specifically designed to serve students with physical and developmental disabilities. The organization's staff, facilities and operating budget have all grown substantially under Sultz' leadership.

Ms. Sultz was one of the founding members of the North Shore Live collective of North Shore theatres. She has personally served as Production Manager for over 20 Piven Theatre productions. Doubling throughout her tenure as grant writer for the organization and the head of Development, Sultz personally coordinated numerous benefit movie premieres and every annual fundraising event that the Piven Theatre Workshop has had over the past 15 years. In recent years, these annual benefits have brought in over $100,000 each.

In announcing her resignation, Sultz said, "It has been my great privilege to serve this amazing organization for 15 years and I will always be deeply grateful to Joyce and Byrne Piven for allowing me that opportunity. While I look forward to new challenges, I hope to always remain supportive of and active in the Piven Theatre Workshop community."

"Jen is a treasured part of our community and we are grateful for her 15 years of exceptional leadership. Her gifted, devoted presence is woven into the fabric of the Piven Theatre, and she will be sorely missed," said Artistic Director Emeritus and co-founder Joyce Piven.

About The Piven Theatre
For over 35 years, the Piven Theatre Workshop has remained a nationally respected acting school and professional Equity theatre. Within recent history, Piven Theatre has received a Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Sound Design, and an After Dark Award for Outstanding Ensemble. The theatre has also received several Joseph Jefferson Recommendations, a Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Adaptation, and Jeff nominations for Best Original Score, and Best Ensemble. Co-Founders Byrne & Joyce Piven have trained countless theatre artists such as John and Joan Cusack, Kate Walsh, Aidan Quinn, Lili Taylor and Jeremy Piven, to name only a few.

Stagebill honored the Pivens with the designation "Chicago's first family of acting." The Pivens have been awarded the Evanston Mayors Award for the Arts, Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Chicago Improv Festival, and the University of Chicago's Glorious Gargoyle Award for lifetime contribution to the theatre. They were named 1996 Artists of the Year by the Chicago Tribune and were recipients of the Chicago Drama League's 1998 Crystal Award. In 2000, they were awarded a Joseph Jefferson Lifetime Achievement Award. For more information, please visit www.piventheatre.org.

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