5th Avenue Announces New Management Team

The board of The 5th Avenue Theatre announced today that Producing Artistic Director David Armstrong, Theatre Advancement and Development Director Bernadine Griffin, and Associate Producing Artistic Director Bill Berry will take on new titles and new jobs at the end of this year.

"At the April 22nd meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board of The 5th Avenue Theatre, there was unanimous approval to create a new management team to carry on the duties of the theatre," announced the Board's Chairman Norm Rice. "The decision was made to name David Armstrong as Executive Producer and Artistic Director, Bernadine Griffin as Managing Director, and Bill Berry as Producing Director."

The new structure represents a promotion of all three directors, calling attention to their successes while highlighting the skills and experience of each. "It represents the most forward-looking plan of the board, and in our opinion recognizes the strengths of each individual," Rice continued. "The balance of this team, their creativity, and the skills each of them has exhibited shows that this is the best group possible to take the torch left by Marilynn Sheldon and move forward. It gives David the opportunity to spread his wings as one of the leading artistic and producing directors in the country, to strengthen the contacts and relationships that have given our regional theatre a national reputation as a home to traditional musical theatre and an incubator of exciting world premieres. Bernie takes on more financial management responsibilities, and also keeps the core competency of fundraising where she's shown such success. And it entrusts Bill with significant oversight of the theatre's production and artistic activities which comes as a natural outgrowth of increased responsibilities that he has taken on over the past few seasons."

For the last nine seasons Producing Artistic Director Armstrong and Managing Director Marilynn Sheldon have led the theatre. Sheldon, who announced her retirement last week after 30 years with the company, will continue to advise the board and senior management of the theatre through the whole of 2010, but will step away from day-to-day duties at the end of 2009.

"Over the past nine years my partnership with Marilynn has been a dynamic and productive one," says Armstrong, "and I am very proud that together we have taken the theater to new heights of artistic excellence and sound fiscal management. I am deeply honored that the Board has placed their trust in me and I am extremely excited to join forces with Bernie and Bill to move the organization into its next stage of growth and accomplishment."

Griffin echoed Armstrong's sentiments. "I am honored to be a part of the team that will build upon the leadership of Marilynn Sheldon, and excited about the future of this organization. I'm enthusiastic about working with Bill and David to bring the theatre to even greater financial and creative achievements that will ensure a bright future for The 5th."

For his part, Berry says that he's "thrilled to be given these new responsibilities and be part of the new leadership team. Over the last few years, the three of us have learned to play off of each other's skills, and the result is a dynamic partnership that will only get stronger."

The 5th Avenue Theatre is Seattle's premier musical theater. In 1980, the non-profit 5th Avenue Theatre began producing and presenting top-quality live musical theater for the cultural enrichment of the Northwest community. The 5th Avenue Theatre maintains a subscription audience of over 25,000 and an annual attendance of more than 287,000. It ranks among the nation's largest and most respected musical theater companies. The Theatre is committed to encouraging the next generation of theatergoers through its Educational Outreach Program which includes: The Adventure Musical Theatre Touring Company, The 5th Avenue High School Musical Theatre Awards, the Student Matinee Program and Spotlight Nights. Unique in its Chinese-inspired design, the exquisite theater opened in 1926 as a venue for vaudeville and film. Today, under the leadership of Managing Director Marilynn Sheldon and Producing Artistic Director David Armstrong, The 5th Avenue Theatre continues to achieve the highest standards in all aspects of artistic endeavors and facility operations, while preserving its artistic, architectural and historic legacy.

For more information, visit www.5thavenue.org.

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