Executive Board Formed to Manage Utah Rep's Growth

Utah Repertory Theater Company has announced the formation of an Executive Board. This new board of directors will augment the work of the existing Artistic Board that has been in place since the company's founding on Dec. 12, 2012.

The purpose of the Executive Board of Directors is to manage the business aspects of Utah Rep, lead and improve the fundraising efforts and grants-approval process, and oversee the company's long-term growth. This board formation will allow the existing board to focus wholly on the artistic endeavors of Utah Rep, and is viewed as a significant advancement step.

"The executive board will be able to focus on the long-term goals of the company and assist with fundraising efforts and greater expansion," said Johnny Hebda, Utah Rep Artistic Director. "These individuals bring a wealth of knowledge, talent, and experience that will take the company to the next level while allowing the artistic board to put its sole focus into the artistic aspects of each production."

"The board will allow the artistic people to concentrate on creating their best work, while helping to develop the long-term support necessary for Utah Rep to continue in the future," said Lee Hollaar, who has taken on the Chairman role of Utah Rep's Executive Board of Directors.

The other members of the new board are Jason Bowcutt, Vice Chairman; Turner C. Bitton, Treasurer; and Kathy A.F. Davis, Secretary.

"Some of the immediate goals will be securing increased financing through grants and private donors that will lead to venue improvements and increasing budgets for productions," Hebda explained. "I am confident that the Executive Board will have a major impact on the quality and professionalism of the productions we present and ensure long-term sustainability."

Hebda will also join the Executive Board as he continues his position as Artistic Director. Blair Howell, who has been serving as Company Manager/Marketing Director, is the final new member, with Company Director responsibilities.

Here are bios of the Executive Board members, along with their thoughts on the future of Utah Rep.

LEE HOLLAAR, Chairman

Lee Hollaar is an emeritus professor of computer science at the University of Utah, where he has been on the faculty since 1980. Before coming to Utah, he was on the faculty of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he received is Ph.D. in 1975. His undergraduate degree is in electrical engineering, from the Illinois Institute of Technology. His research has involved computer networking, distributed systems, computer hardware development, and computer and intellectual property law.

A theater lover, Lee attends over 100 plays a year, and has been involved with the technical side of theater since 1960. He is a former board member of the Litchfield, Minnesota, Opera House and was responsible for its stage lighting and sound systems. He is also a member of KUER's advisory board and a volunteer stage electrician at Pioneer Theatre Company.

Lee's view on Utah Rep's future: "When I saw my first Utah Rep production, I knew it was something special but the company was being limited by its venue. The company can only get better with its new facilities and the assistance that each individual member of this Executive Advisory Board will provide. The board will allow the artistic people to concentrate on creating their best work, while helping to develop the long-term support necessary for Utah Rep to continue in the future."

JASON BOWCUTT, Vice Chairman

Jason currently serves as the Community Arts Manager for the Utah Division of Arts and Museums. He is a graduate of the University of Utah's Actors Training Program and worked as a professional actor in New York and at theaters across the country such as The Guthrie Theatre, McCarter Theatre, The Shakespeare Theatre, Pioneer Theatre Company, and many more. After acting for many years he moved his attention to directing and producing. Jason was a director company member for Emerging Artists Theatre and The Other Side of Silence professional theater company in New York. He is also one of the Co-Founding Directors of the Innovative Theatre Foundation, the IT Awards, a community building foundation for New York's Off-Off-Broadway. In September of 2014, the IT Awards celebrated its tenth annual award ceremony. Jason is happy to be a member of Utah's theater scene and experienced a career highlight in November 2014 when he directed "[title of show]" for Utah Rep.

Jason's view on Utah Rep's future: "I am excited about Utah Rep's future prospects because in its relatively short history it has made a major impact on Utah's theater scene, producing shows that would not otherwise have life. I see this trajectory that has been mapped moving forward with passion and commitment to always improving and deepening the conversation."

TURNER C. BITTON, Treasurer

Turner uses a data-centered approach to fund development and has lectured, spoken, and presented on the intersections between political engagement, donor cultivation, and digital organizing. Turner is a member of the Utah Society of Fundraisers, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Utah Nonprofits Association, and Grant Professionals Association. Turner also serves on the Board of Directors as Treasurer of OUTreach Resource Centers, as a board member of the Planned Parenthood Action Council of Utah, and as the President of the Board of Directors at the Drug Policy Project of Utah. Turner understands the relationship between art, culture, and the betterment of our communities. Turner is currently employed as the Membership Coordinator at Equality Utah and moonlights as President of Borador Consulting. He lives in Ogden with his partner Chase and his two dogs, Charley and Moose.

Turner's view on Utah Rep's future: "In my time working with non-profits, I have seen many worthy causes fall short of achieving their goals, simply because of a lack of oversight and planning. The creation of an oversight-drive Executive Board by the Utah Rep ensures that Utah Rep will continue to provide entertaining, thought-provoking shows for years to come."

KATHY A. F. DAVIS, Secretary

Kathy is a home-grown Utah product, but liberal. She is a great appreciator of live performance, especially theater, and patronize most of the local theater and performing art groups. Kathy is constantly amazed by the talent found in Utah and the number and variety of theater groups this area supports. While she has been an attorney for quite some time (currently working for the Utah Attorney General's office), Kathy has unrealized and yet-to-be identified artistic aspirations. She says she did appear in a 7th grade play as an extra with one line - it was delivered with great fervor and dramatic effect.

Kathy's view on Utah Rep's future: "I'm excited to work with Utah Rep, because, having seen all productions to date, I am impressed with its artistic talent, the diverse selection of plays and musicals, and quality of the productions. Utah Rep provides the opportunity to see works not widely produced in Utah - plays that push the theatergoer to think about significant issues and engage in meaningful discussion."

JOHNNY HEBDA, Artistic Director

Johnny is the founder of Utah Rep and has been the company's artistic director since its founding in 2012. He has acted in, directed or produced more than 80 productions throughout the U.S., on both stage and film, including performances in regional theaters such as The Lost Colony (performing the title of role of Romeo under the direction of Terrence Mann in his original rock musical adaptation of "Romeo & Juliet"), Roxy Regional Theatre, and Off-Off Broadway with the American Family Theatre in New York City, in which he toured more than 30 cities in various productions. He is a former member of Actor's Equity and a current member of the Screen Actors' Guild, an active theater critic for Utah Theatre Bloggers Association and the American Theatre Critics Association. Favorite directing projects include "Bare," "Side Show," and "Carousel," for Utah Rep; "Parade," Outstanding Brigham Young University Student Director Award; "For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls"; and "The Little Shop of Horrors." Johnny is a graduate of Roosevelt University (MA in Directing), Brigham Young University (BFA in Music Dance Theatre) and The Florida School of the Arts Conservatory (AA in Musical Theater). Favorite acting credits include Clyde Barrow in "Bonnie & Clyde," Broadway World Regional Award Best Actor in a Musical, and Steve in "Grace," both for Utah Rep; CB in "Dog Sees God"; Applegate in "Damn Yankees"; and Mozart in "Amadeus," Florida Theatre Conference Best Actor, College Division. www.johnnyhebda.com.

BLAIR HOWELL, Managing Director

Blair is a founding board member of Utah Rep and has served as marketing director since its inception in 2012. He added company management to his responsibilities one year ago. He began his career in the ink-and-print world of publishing. He now manages an Internet endeavor, a website devoted to assisting students achieve success in postsecondary education, and has two freelance positions, writer and editor, for the Deseret News. He continues to review arts performances in Utah, after beginning to review theater productions in the tri-state area while living in New Canaan, Connecticut. He is slavishly devoted to musical theater and considers it a genuine treat to work with Utah Rep and each of the company's associates.

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