Public Names Nellis as General Mgr, Smith Director of Finance

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced today that they have named Andrea Nellis General Manager and Daniel C. Smith Director of Finance. Nellis moves to the General Management position after working for 15 months as The Public's Chief Financial Officer. Smith has been promoted to Director of Finance after serving as The Public's Controller since January 2008.

"Andrea and Daniel have years of experience in managing the administration and finances of some of New York's finest non-profits," said Public Theater Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson. "We are thrilled to have them playing such important leadership roles at The Public."

ANDREA NELLIS (General Manager) has spent the last 19 years working in the performing arts, with the last 13 in key management positions at major New York non-profit institutions. Most recently, she was the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the Brooklyn Philharmonic, where her scope of supervision included all financial activities, general administration and orchestra operations. Prior to that, she spent four years at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. She began as an Assistant General Manager and concluded her time there as the Controller, which led to a position as the Finance Director for the BAM Local Development Corporation, where she worked with Harvey Lichtenstein on the development of the BAM Cultural District for six years. Nellis' long-time career in the arts also includes work at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Musical Theatre Works, and Berkeley Repertory Theatre. She received her BFA in Stage Management from Boston University and an MFA in Theater Management from the Yale School of Drama. In addition, Nellis is currently an adjunct professor in the Performing Arts Administration program at NYU's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development.

DANIEL C. SMITH (Director of Finance) became Controller at The Public Theater in early 2008. He previously spent 12 years as Controller at Playwrights Horizons. His formative years in theater finance were spent with the Prince Music Theater (formerly AMTF) in Philadelphia, where he worked for 5 years. Prior to that, Smith spent more than 10 years in various finance positions in the hotel industry. He has served on the Board of Directors of SITI Company, an ensemble-based theater company led by Anne Bogart, and NascentWorks, a not-for-profit theater company dedicated to promoting new voices and collaborations in theater and film. He attended Drexel University and St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia.

THE PUBLIC THEATER (Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Andrew D. Hamingson, Executive Director) 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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