Tim Jennings Exits CTC for Shaw Festival; Hunt Begins for New Managing Director

Children's Theatre Company (CTC) announced today that Tim Jennings, Managing Director of Children's Theatre Company, will be leaving at the end of September 2015 to take on the position of Executive Director at the internationally renowned Shaw Festival of Canada (Niagara on the Lake, Ontario).

The Shaw Festival is one of North America's largest non-profit theatre companies, with a budget of $30 million/year producing work in four historic theatre spaces that run in repertory from April to November. The company is known for its 65+ person acting company and for its focus on provocative theatre that draws on the work of George Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries, as well as modern work that instigates similar kinds of social dialogue. Jennings will succeed Elaine Calder, who is retiring this year.

Jeffry von Gillern, CTC's Board Chair and Vice Chair of US Bancorp, remarked, "It has been a true honor and privilege to work with Tim over the past four years. His passion for arts and for education has translated into remarkable experiences for both children and adults. Tim has brought tremendous business acumen to Children's Theatre Company while fostering an environment of creativity, advancement and leadership in the field. He is a true leader in our community and we will miss him, but at the same time celebrate this great opportunity for him. He leaves us at a time when CTC is in such a solid position with tremendous momentum - thanks to his leadership."

Reflecting on his tenure at CTC, Jennings commented, "After four seasons of remarkable work with a team that has made life here truly amazing, I will miss Peter [Brosius], the staff, the board, the artists and patrons greatly. I leave here truly enriched by my experiences and have been honored to be embraced by a community that leads the nation in recognizing the importance of theatre, culture and the arts. Their profound effect on the life of a community is clearly evidenced by the presence of the world's leading family theatre and all of our colleagues across the Twin Cities arts community. While I am thrilled to be returning to Canada and to be asked to lead one of the world's great repertory companies, I am sad I won't be here to celebrate CTC's 50th Anniversary season. Have no doubt that I will be a regular visitor to the Twin Cities and continue to support the amazing work at CTC! The season is too good to miss! "

Jennings, who also sits on the boards of TCG (Theatre Communications Group), where he serves as Treasurer, and of the Minnesota Theatre Alliance, will be relocating to the Niagara region of Ontario.

CTC Artistic Director Peter C. Brosius remarked, "Tim has made it his life's work to bring extraordinary theatre to young people and communities. He has been a true leader - building financial stability, deepening ties in the communities he serves and enthusiastically supporting the artistic work. Now he heads back home to Canada to lead North America's largest bi-national theatre -a theatre he grew up at and that he credits for driving him to pursue a career in the arts. We are truly grateful for his extraordinary leadership."

Andrew M. Pringle, Chair of the Board of Governors of the Shaw Festival, noted: "After an extensive global search process, we are very pleased that a person of Tim's calibre and experience is joining The Shaw and we look forward to working with him when he joins us at the end of September. We are happy to repatriate another Canadian whose experience in the US will serve us and our American audiences well. He will build on the excellent achievements of Elaine Calder and work in collaboration with our Board of Governors, Artistic Director and senior management team. Tim will be here in time to be a part of Jackie Maxwell's final season in 2016 and to be included in the search and welcome of our next Artistic Director, with whom he'll be working on the 2017 and subsequent seasons."

A national search for Children's Theatre Company's next Managing Director will begin in earnest shortly.

Children's Theatre Company (CTC) is the first family theatre to win the coveted Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theater (2003) and has welcomed more than 11 million people to performances and education programs over the last five decades. As one of the 25 largest regional theatre companies in the nation, CTC has created over 200 new works, dramatically changing the canon of work for young audiences.

CTC educational programs reach tens of thousands of young people of all ages, ranging from early learners to young adults. CTC's Theatre Arts Training (TAT) program is designed to mold the next generation of theatre professionals in a guided, dynamic, studio-style program that is tailored to the needs of each individual student.

Steeped in our nationally-recognized Neighborhood Bridges philosophy, the CTC Community Engagement team creates models that arts organizations, schools and educators utilize to animate teaching and learning and develop critical thinking through creative writing, storytelling and theatre arts. Our three core programs include Neighborhood Bridges (currently serving grades 2-8), Building Bridges (serving Kindergartners) and Early Bridges (serving ages 3- 5). Our programming exists to promote accessibility and to deepen engagement with teachers and students locally and nation-wide.

CTC will celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2015-2016 with five world premieres and several community focused events. For more, visit www.childrenstheatre.org/50.

Photo Credit: Dan Norman

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