She joins the Playhouse staff Jan. 6. "We're pleased that following a national search, we were able to find a local candidate with superb national and regional arts credentials," Vincent Post, chairman of the board, said in a statement.
Calzolari moved with her family to Miami in June 2001 when her husband, Howard Herring, became president of the prestigious New World Symphony. She has worked as an arts consultant in the community since that time. Prior to that, Calzolari served for 16 years as the executive director of the Music Conservatory of Westchester in White Plains, NY, one of the oldest and most widely-respected community arts schools in the nation. During that time she oversaw continuous balanced budgets, expansion of programs and audience and a redevelopment project and successful capital campaign, which led to the institution's renovation and relocation into a modern facility in January 2001.
Calzolari is a founding director of the Center Music School, Jewish Community Center in Stamford, CT, and spent 10 years as a professional flutist specializing in chamber and contemporary music. She is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music with a master of music degree in flute performance and musicology.
As Coconut Grove's executive director, Calzolari will manage the organization's day-to-day business operations which include but are not limited to: development, capital campaign, government and community relations, finances, facilities, marketing and public relations. She will work closely with producing artistic director Arnold Mittelman, who is responsible for the institution's artistic and educational programs. Both Mittelman and Calzolari report to the Playhouse board of directors.
The Coconut Grove Playhouse is South Florida's largest not-for-profit theatre with an annual budget in excess of $5 million. For 47 years the Playhouse has been producing and presenting revivals and world premieres of plays and musicals. The new musical, Romeo and Bernadette, begins performances there Jan. 7. For more information, visit www.cgplayhouse.com.
