Heather Hitchens '91 is American Theatre Wing's New Executive Director

May 11, 2011

96790 May 11, 2011, Greencastle, Ind. — Heather Hitchens, a 1991 graduate of DePauw University, was today announced as the American Theatre Wing's new executive director. The American Theatre Wing is a not-for-profit organization best known for creating The Antoinette Perry "Tony" Awards®, now presented with The Broadway League, the best-known national platform for the recognition of theatrical achievement on Broadway. Hitchens will assume her new duties on July 5.

Playbill notes, "Hitchens is a nationally recognized arts executive, with nearly 20 years of experience in performing arts administration, policy and program development. She most recently served as the executive director of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), the oldest and largest state arts agency in the country, with a budget of $40 million. During her four-year tenure at NYSCA, Hitchens oversaw the distribution of over $123 million in grants to more than 2,000 New York State organizations in every artistic discipline. Prior to working with the NYSCA, Hitchens served as the CEO of the Delaware Symphony Orchestra and the national arts organization Meet The Composer, where she established a multi-million dollar endowment fund and fostered a 30-fold increase in individual giving. She holds an M.S. in arts administration from Drexel University and a B.M. in percussion/music business from DePauw."

"I am absolutely thrilled to become the American Theatre Wing's next executive director," says Hitchens. "It is a tremendous opportunity to continue my life's work in advancing exceptional artists and their craft, and to return to the place that my career began and a place that I love -- the theatre. I look forward to working with the Wing's board and staff to continue showcasing and supporting artistic excellence and innovation in the national theatre community."