Jennings has served as general manager for the Washington, DC, classical troupe since 2004.
During his tenure, Jennings has overseen the finance, production and marketing operations for STC and helped manage the company's budget expansion from $12 to $19 million. As managing director, Jennings will be responsible for the overall business and external affairs of STC including building partnerships with the many Washington-based performing arts companies who perform at the Harman Center for the Arts venues, according to a statement.
"I am very pleased that Chris Jennings has accepted the position of managing director, particularly since he has served as de facto managing director for nearly a year," stated Kahn. "Chris' wide knowledge of the performing arts community and demonstrated skills in financial and strategic planning will continue to be tremendous assets as we further develop our mission at the Harman Center for the Arts."
Mike Klein, chairman of the company's board of trustees added, "Chris has earned the respect and confidence of the entire company, not just for the essential managerial skills, but by demonstrating the requisite dedication to artistic excellence and interpersonal relationships that have exemplified the Shakespeare Theatre Company for the past two decades. We are confident in our future with him in this position."
Jennings currently serves on the board of the DC Downtown BID and the Pennsylvania Quarter Neighborhood Association and is a member of the League of Resident Theatres and the Theatre Communications Group. Prior to his arrival in Washington, Jennings served as general manager for Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, RI. Jennings also worked as the associate managing director for Yale Repertory Theatre, was manager for the Off-Broadway Theatre for a New Audience and was awarded a Fellowship in Arts Administration by the National Endowment for the Arts. He also served as manager of the Dougherty Arts Center in Austin, TX, and was a founder of the Texas Young Playwrights Festival, where he also worked as a producing director. He received an MFA in theatre management from Yale School of Drama and a BFA in theatre and music from the University of Miami.
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