Flat Rock Playhouse Hires A Finance Director

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Flat Rock Playhouse HIRES A FINANCE DIRECTOR

(NEWS DIRECTOR'S NOTE: When the Village of Flat Rock Council made the unanimous decision last December to give the financially strapped Flat Rock Playhouse $100 thousand, Council set some conditions...one condition required the Playhouse board of directors to hire a finance director to over-see Playhouse finances. The search for a "finance director" has apparently been going on since the end of last year...and Playhouse board chairman Bill McKibbon issued the following press release, which was held for release until Saturday afternoon:)

The Board of the Flat Rock Playhouse is very pleased to announce that after reviewing over 40 qualified applicants, we have hired a Managing Director with a highly impressive skill-set and reputation in every aspect of performing arts management. Hillary Hart, a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, will begin her new role on April 2nd.

Hillary is currently the General Manager of Dallas Theater Center, an $8.5 million regional theater, having assumed increasing responsibility over the course of seven years from Company Manager to her current role. Prior to Dallas Theater Center, Hillary worked as Production Manager for the world-renowned Alvin Ailey II dance company, after serving on the committee that conceived the City of Winston-Salem's first-ever cultural festival in conjunction with UNCSA."

"At Dallas Theater Center, Hillary has been responsible for budgeting and strategic planning, contract negotiations, union relations, intellectual properties, vendor relations, personnel, and development" said McKibbin.

"We were just as impressed, however, that she has also worked in almost every aspect of the theater business during her career, as a stage hand, director, writer, and even a very "hands on" head of the team that loaded the equipment for an Alvin Ailey 44-city tour. We thought it was important that we find someone who can not only master a budget but also relate to the public and staff with a lifelong love of theater. Hillary fits the bill."

McKibbin stated that "With this hire, the Flat Rock Playhouse will be adopting the management structure that most non-profit theaters of our size have used for decades." He explained that this model entails two equal administrators - an Artistic Director and a Managing Director - both directly accountable to the Board of Trustees.

"This is a long-term structural change designed to get us fully up-to-date on today's best practices in non-profit theater management," said McKibbin.

As Managing Director, Hillary will have primary responsibility for financial management, including budget development and administration, personnel, contract negotiations, marketing, strategic development, and the day-to-day operations of our YouTheatre.

Vincent Marini, Producing Artistic Director, will continue to have primary responsibility for steering the overall artistic vision of the theater, including all elements of production; programming new work initiatives, our nationally-recognized apprentice program and the YouTheatre curriculum.

“As the theater programming has grown over the years, so have the administrative and operational responsibilities. Having a partner like Hillary is a dream come true for me. She is going to be an incredible asset to this theater and to our community.” said Marini.

The Artistic Director and Managing Director will be the collaborative team who lead the Playhouse into the future.

“We are very excited about Hillary joining the Flat Rock Playhouse” said McKibbin.

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