Rebecca Ende Lichtenberg Named Managing Director of Studio Theatre

Studio Theatre's Board of Trustees today announces that Rebecca Ende Lichtenberg will join the organization as Managing Director beginning in December 2018. She joins Studio, long regarded as one of Washington, DC's most daring presenters of new and contemporary theatre, in its 40th anniversary season. She comes to Studio from Theater J, the nation's most prominent Jewish theatre and a cultural touchstone in Washington, DC, where she served as Managing Director and, earlier, Director of Marketing and Communications. She was selected after a rigorous nationwide search conducted by Managing Consultants for the Arts.

"We are thrilled to welcome Rebecca Ende Lichtenberg to the Studio Theatre family," said board president Larry Naake. "Rebecca's experience guiding Theatre J through a remarkable period of growth and change, and her abilities as a leader and strategist, make her an ideal choice for this role. I am looking forward to the partnership between Artistic Director David Muse and Rebecca as our new Managing Director, to successfully guide us through our 40th Anniversary season and beyond."

"We searched all over the country and found someone two blocks away," said Artistic Director David Muse. "Rebecca impressed us all with her resourcefulness, her ability to operate both strategically and operationally, and her smarts. We have some big plans for the future, and I look forward to partnering with her as we bring them to fruition."

"I have been seeing work at Studio Theatre for nearly two decades and long have admired the company's ability to innovate and uphold the highest standards of artistic excellence," says Rebecca Ende Lichtenberg. "I am honored to partner with visionary Artistic Director David Muse and Studio's talented senior team in leading this nationally-recognized organization into its next phase. This amazing opportunity gives me the chance to help build on Studio's legacy of developing new work, to nurture the next generation of artists and arts professionals, and to deepen my connections in the DC community."

Rebecca Ende Lichtenberg served as the Managing Director of Theater J for eight seasons, during which time she led the theatre through an Artistic Director transition and was instrumental in growing the theatre's income in all areas-subscriptions, single ticket sales, and contributed income. During her tenure at Theater J, she oversaw visioning for the institution, creating a new mission and strategic plan, laid the groundwork for an off-site season during extensive renovation of the theatre's parent institution, the Edlavitch DCJCC, and expanded the reach of its programming through strategic community partnerships. Previously, she worked in arts marketing at Sitar Arts Center, Theater J, and Ford's Theatre.

"Rebecca is a phenomenal Managing Director, and a brilliant choice for Studio Theatre. Her business acumen and strategic leadership over eight seasons have helped usher Theater J into the most financially successful period in our theatre's 28-year history," says Theater J Artistic Director Adam Immerwahr. "Though I will miss our partnership immensely, I am consoled in knowing that she will continue to be a leader in our wonderful DC theatrical community, and I am excited to see the terrific impact she will have at Studio."

Ende Lichtenberg currently serves as the Chair of Adjudication Committee for theatreWashington and on the Steering Committee of ArtsActionDC. She previously served as the President of the Board of Forum Theatre and as a Helen Hayes Judge. She holds an M.A. in Arts Administration from Columbia University, a Certificate in Budgeting and Finance from Georgetown University, and is a graduate of Harvard Business School's Strategic Perspectives in Non-Profit Management program.

Studio Theatre

Now entering its 40th season, and its ninth under the leadership of Artistic Director David Muse, Studio Theatre is Washington's premier venue for contemporary theatre, "where local audiences will find today's edgiest playwrights" (Variety). One of the most respected midsized theatres in the country, Studio Theatre produces exceptional contemporary drama in deliberately intimate spaces. Drawing inspiration from great ensembles-where people work together with a spirit of generosity and professional rigor-Studio brings characteristic thoughtfulness and daring to its work onstage and off, through its new work incubator and engagement, education, and workforce training initiatives. Celebrating its 40th anniversary in the 2018-2019 Season, Studio looks to honor its history through encouraging a creative culture in which artistry and boldness stem from inclusion, training, stewardship, and the collaborative spirit of the rehearsal room. Every year, Studio serves nearly 75,000 people, including over 1,000 youth and young adults through engagement and education initiatives. Throughout Studio's 40-year history, the quality of its work has been recognized by sustained community support, as well as 367 nominations and 70 Helen Hayes Awards for excellence in professional theatre.

Photo by DJ Corey Photography

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