LOUISVILLE, KY: Actors Theatre of Louisville has announced that managing director Jennifer Bielstein will leave her post in April to begin a new role as the managing director of the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, where she will join the company’s artistic director Joseph Haj.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to work with Jennifer during my time here at Actors Theatre,” said Actors’ artistic director Les Waters in a statement. “She has shown great passion and dedication and will be tremendously missed.  Her arts experience and leadership is unparalleled.  The Guthrie Theater is very lucky to have her join their team.”

Bielstein served as the managing director of Actors Theatre for 10 seasons, during which time she led the theatre through the economic recession, and made strategic investments in software and analysis to provide for data-based decision making regarding audience and donor growth. Also during her tenure, the signage on the theatre façade improved, new apartments were erected for visiting artists, the KFC Yum! Center opened, and a partnership with a new restaurant was made with the theatre—-all efforts to improve the overall experience of artists and patrons.

Prior to joining Actors Theatre, she served as the executive director of Writers Theatre in Glencoe, Ill., and she also worked for Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company, About Face Theatre, Northlight Theatre, and Apple Tree Theatre. Bielstein received a degree in business administration and theatre from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is also a graduate of the  executive program for nonprofit leaders in the arts at Standford Graduate School of Business and Bellarmine University’s MBA program, where she received the MFA Faculty Merit Award. She is the vice president of the League of Resident Theatres, and holds leadership roles at Theatre Forward and the Arts and Cultural Attractions Council. Bielstein is the recipient of the Pyramid Award of Excellence in Leadership from the Center for Nonprofit Excellence

“Actors Theatre is an incredibly strong and important organization, and Louisville is a wonderfully welcoming and supportive city,” said Bielstein in a statement. “I am grateful for the experience I have had here working in collaboration with Les Waters, our staff, board, artists, donors, volunteers, and the broad array of people who are active in this community. I am proud of all we have accomplished together, and I know that Actors Theatre is in a great position going forward.”