Vineyard Theatre Welcomes Suzanne Appel as Managing Director

Vineyard Theatre's Board of Directors, and Artistic Directors Douglas Aibel and Sarah Stern, announced today that Suzanne Appel has been named the company's new Managing Director beginning January 17, 2017.

Appel comes to the Vineyard from Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, where she has served as the Director of External Affairs since 2015. Prior to her role at Hubbard Street, she served as Managing Director at Cutting Ball Theater in San Francisco.

Artistic Directors Douglas Aibel and Sarah Stern said in a statement: "We are thrilled that Suzanne Appel is joining us at the Vineyard in the role of Managing Director. Suzanne is a gifted, forward-thinking and dynamic arts leader who has developed a great record of accomplishment in her previous positions at major arts organizations across the country. We are looking forward to a fruitful partnership with her at this exciting time in the Vineyard's life."

Appel joined Hubbard Street Dance Chicago following a decade of arts leadership roles with an emphasis on business development, revenue generation, and producing the work of form-challenging artists. At Hubbard Street she led the fundraising and marketing teams to annual revenue generation of over $7 million. Prior to her role at Hubbard Street, she served as Managing Director at Cutting Ball Theater in San Francisco, where she nearly doubled the organization's operating budget and built a two-plus month operating reserve in four years. Her previous roles include Director of Individual Giving at Dance Theater Workshop in New York City, Associate Managing Director at Yale Repertory Theater in New Haven, Management Fellow at Berkeley Repertory Theater, and Assistant Director of the Annual Fund at Wesleyan University. Appel holds an MBA from Yale School of Management, an MFA in Theater Management from Yale School of Drama, and a BA from Wesleyan University.

"I'm honored to have the opportunity to join the Vineyard Theatre," said Appel in a statement. "The Vineyard has had a profound impact through the years, developing and launching so many incredible new plays and musicals. I am looking forward to working with Doug and Sarah and with the Vineyard's Board of Directors, staff and artists to advance the company's mission to nurture artists and bold new work. As a native New Yorker, I'm also thrilled to be coming home to this wonderful community.'"

Vineyard Theatre worked with executive search firm Dunch Arts to identify a new executive leader, following the previously announced departure of Executive Producer Jennifer Garvey-Blackwell in September, after 19 years of service with the company.

Vineyard Board Chair Ken Greiner and Board President Kathleen Chalfant: "We are very excited to welcome Suzanne Appel to our Vineyard family and back to New York. She brings a strong track record of leadership, great experience, and a passion for the Vineyard's mission to the job. We are looking forward to working with her to build on the Vineyard's role as a vital home for artists and adventurous new work."

Dedicated to the creation and production of daring new plays and musicals, The Vineyard has consistently premiered provocative, groundbreaking works, including Paula Vogel and Rebecca Taichman's INDECENT, which will begin performances on Broadway in April, and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' Pulitzer Prize finalist GLORIA, which transfers this month to the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. Other notable works include DOT by Colman Domingo; Nicky Silver's THE LYONS; Marx, Lopez and Whitty's Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q; Kander and Ebb's THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS; Bell and Bowen's [title of show]; Paula Vogel's HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE (1998 Pulitzer Prize); Edward Albee's THREE TALL WOMEN (1994 Pulitzer Prize); Tarell Alvin McCraney's WIG OUT!; Becky Mode's FULLY COMMITTED; Jenny Schwartz' GOD'S EAR; Will Eno's MIDDLETOWN; and many more. The Vineyard's productions have been honored with two Pulitzer Prizes, three Tony Awards, and numerous Drama Desk, Obie, Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel awards.

The Vineyard's 2016-17 season continues with John Kander and Greg Pierce's new musical KID VICTORY, directed by Liesl Tommy, which begins performances February 1; and will be followed this spring by Gina Gionfriddo's CAN YOU FORGIVE HER?, directed by Peter DuBois.

More information at www.vineyardtheatre.org.

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