Arizona Theatre Company Names Three Key Administrators

Arizona Theatre Company (David Ivers, Artistic Director; Billy Russo, Managing Director) is pleased to announce the addition of Sue DeBenedette as Director of Marketing, John Geersten as Company Manager and Julia Waterfall-Kanter as Director of Development.

"Combined, Sue, John and Julia bring more than 60 years of experience in their respective areas of expertise to Arizona Theatre Company (ATC), experience that will be vitally important as we lay the foundation for ATC's next 50 years. We were so impressed with each individual's talents and experience, and when each of them expressed their main motivation for joining the team was the desire to be in a position where they could have a significant impact on an organization, that sealed the deal for us," said ATC Managing Director Billy Russo and Artistic Director David Ivers in a joint statement.

DeBenedette was most recently Chief Marketing and Development Officer at the Tucson Jewish Community Center after handling marketing responsibilities at Arizona Public Media. Her many years of marketing experience also include positions as Marketing Director at the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Director of Marketing for PolyGram Records in Australia and in International Marketing at A&M Records, New York and Los Angeles.

Waterfall-Kanter has been leading fund development efforts for more than 20 years for organizations that include, but are not limited to, Arizona Opera, Tucson Jewish Community Center, Up With People and Social Venture Partners Tucson. One of her first jobs was as ATC Associate Director of Development. A second-generation Tucsonan, she said that "playing a role at ATC is the perfect way to bring together my skills, love of Arizona and a deep commitment to build and sustain this cornerstone arts organization."

Geersten served for seven years as Managing Associate and Company Manager at Pioneer Theatre Company in Salt Lake City, simultaneously working as an Equity Stage Manager for its new play series and main stage shows. For three seasons, he produced the collaborative Utah charity event, Utah Theatre United that raised money through cabaret events for a group of charities. His stage management experience also included the 2009 U.S. Tour of the Royal Ballet School, The Star Wars Trilogy in 30 Minutes for George Lucas and the Los Angeles-based celebrity charity concert, "What a Pair!". Before working in theatre, his television associate producer credits include the "MTV Movie," "VH1 Fashion," "My VH1" and "Big In" award shows, and Paul McCartney's "Driving USA Tour."

Arizona Theatre Company is currently presenting Low Down Dirty Blues (directed by Randal Myler), in Tucson March 10-31 and in Phoenix, April 5-22; and The Diary of Anne Frank, directed by ATC Artistic Director Emeritus David Ira Goldstein, in Tucson April 21-May 12 and in Phoenix, May 17-June 3.

For more information, visit www.arizonatheatre.org.

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