Second Stage Theatre Board of Trustees chairman Stephen Sherrill said in a statement, "Ellen has been invaluable as executive director over these past three years. We are experiencing an enormous period of growth and expansion and Ellen has been instrumental in moving the company forward. We wish her the best in all her future endeavors."

During Richard's three-year tenure, the Off-Broadway company acquired the right to purchase Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre, and several institutional initiatives, including the creation of a "Second Generation" program — where donors purchased individual subscriptions for low income students — were also created.

Prior to joining Second Stage Theatre in spring 2006, Richard helped build the Roundabout Theatre Company from a small Off-Broadway non-profit into one of the country's most successful theatre companies. Prior to joining Roundabout Theatre Company, she worked at the Westport County Playhouse, The Stamford Center for the Arts, The Hartman Theatre and Atlas Scenic Studios.

Richard is the recipient of six Tony Awards as producer for Cabaret and A View From the Bridge (both 1998), Sideman (1999), Nine (2003), Assassins (2004) and Glengarry Glen Ross (2005).

The Tony-winning Next to Normal, now at Broadway's Booth Theatre, began its Off-Broadway life at Second Stage.