AlbertHall&Associates Lands Artistic Director for Arizona Theatre Company

May 22, 2017 – The Arizona Theatre Company (ATC) board of directors has named David Ivers as its new artistic director. Executive recruitment firm AlbertHall&Associates conducted the nationwide search. ATC’s current artistic director, David Ira Goldstein, will remain with the company the end of June, when his 25-year tenure officially ends.

Mr. Ivers served as artistic director at the Utah Shakespeare Festival for seven years. He acted in and directed more than 50 productions with the company over two decades. Among his accomplishments, he helped lead a $40 million facilities expansion that included two new theatres, a new rehearsal hall, costume shop and administrative offices.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Ivers was associate artistic director at Portland Repertory Theatre in Oregon. He has appeared in productions at some of the nation’s top regional theatres and recently directed productions at The Guthrie Theatre, where he will direct Blithe Spirit in November, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, The Oregon Shakespeare Festival, South Coast Repertory Theatre and Pioneer Theatre Company, among others. He also spent 10 years as a resident artist with the Denver Center Theatre Company, helping create more than 40 productions as an actor and director.

The Search

“The search process, guided and organized by consulting and executive recruiting firm AlbertHall&Associates, was extensive and, ultimately, incredibly rewarding with the hiring of David Ivers,” said ATC board chair Lynne Wood Dusenberry. “There were a number of truly wonderful candidates for the position, but David was clearly the right person to build upon David Ira Goldstein’s artistic legacy and guide Arizona Theatre Company to the next level of success.”

Mr. Ivers is looking forward to his new job and the possibilities it affords. “Because of the richness of the cultural offerings and heritage in both Tucson and Phoenix, I’m humbled and excited about Arizona Theatre Company’s impact, contribution and potential as we start the next half century,” he said. “ATC has been and should be the crown cultural jewel of Arizona and, though we bring great, thoughtful and quality theatre to two different communities, we serve the entire state.”

Now in its 50th season, Arizona Theatre Company is the preeminent fully professional theatre in Arizona. More than 130,000 people each year attend its performances at the historic Temple of Music and Art in Tucson, and the Herberger Theater Center in downtown Phoenix.

AlbertHall&Associates is an executive search firm dedicated to the leadership needs of arts, entertainment and non-profit organizations across North America. The firm is led by managing partner Thomas Hall, a non-profit leadership and management consultant working with clients across all disciplines of the sector. His industry experience includes nearly 25 years as managing director of San Diego’s Tony Award-winning Old Globe Theater.

Just recently, AlbertHall&Associates placed Hillary Hart as executive director of the Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS). The placement concluded an extensive 10-month national search. Theatre Under the Stars is a Houston based non-profit institution dedicated to enriching life through the experience of quality musical theatre and positively impacting lives beyond the stage through innovative education and community outreach initiatives.

Turning to Executive Search Firms

Other film and music organizations have been turning to executive search firms in recent months to find new leaders. Here’s a look at just a few of them from the Hunt Scanlon Media archives:

Isaacson, Miller has placed Damian Woetzel as the seventh president of The Juilliard School. For the last 32 years, Joseph Polisi has served as the organization’s president. Isaacson, Miller chairman John Isaacson led the search with vice president Sheryl Ash and associates Katie Rockman and Cortney Tunis.

Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras (CYSO) appointed Susan Lape as executive director, following an executive search process led by Arts Consulting Group. “ACG was honored to assist Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras in its search to fill this critical role within the organization,” said Jenna Deja, vice president at ACG.

Schall Executive Search recruited Mark Nerenhausen as president and CEO of the Hennepin Theatre Trust. Hennepin Theatre Trust is a non-profit organization that creates positive change through the arts by bringing together people, businesses and organizations in WeDo, the West Downtown Minneapolis Cultural District.

Stamford, CT-based executive search firm Management Consultants for the Arts was selected by Music of the Baroque (MOB) in Chicago to lead its search for a new executive director. Partner David Mallette and managing director Louise Kane are leading the assignment. MOB is a modern instrument chamber orchestra.

Howe-Lewis International was recently chosen by the Sundance Institute to lead its search for a new chief advancement officer. Founded by Robert Redford in 1981, the Sundance seeks to discover, support, and inspire independent film and theatre artists from the U.S. and around the world, and to introduce audiences to their new work.

Korn Ferry placed Michael Murphy as president of Shea’s Performing Arts Center. Shea’s Performing Arts Center is a theater for touring Broadway musicals and special events in Buffalo, New York. Originally called Shea’s Buffalo, it was opened in 1926 to show silent movies and boasts one of the few theater organs in the U.S.