NEW YORK CITY: Signature Theatre announced today that executive director Erika Mallin has stepped down from her role. Mallin, who served as executive director for 10 years, will continue to provide the board and staff support while a national search to fill the position takes place.

“Having vision is one thing, but to take visions and dreams and wrestle them into actual form and shape and functioning reality is the work that takes the most courage,” said board chairman Edward Norton  in a statement. “Signature Theatre and especially the Pershing Square Signature Center would just have been dreams over coffee without the heroic work of Erika Mallin. She navigated our dream to shore when it could have wrecked on the rocks at least a dozen times but for her determination, acumen and relentless hard work. My gratitude and admiration for her is boundless.”

Mallin worked with founding artistic director James Houghton to lead the Signature Theatre’s transition to the Frank Gehry-designed Signature Center, a construction project she shepherded with the city of New York and the Related Companies. During her tenure, Signature’s programming increased to include 6-8 plays, three residency programs, and the Signature Ticket Initiative. Mallin and Houghton accepted the Regional Theatre Tony Award® on behalf of Signature in 2014.

“I love to make big things happen, and Signature, with its bold mission and ambitious aspirations, has been the perfect place to do that,” said Mallin in a statement. “I’m incredibly proud to have shepherded the building of the Pershing Square Signature Center and to have helped Signature become the vibrant and accomplished institution it is. Over the last 10 years, it has been my privilege to work with so many iconic artists and passionate supporters and to partner with Jim, Paige [Evans], and our wonderful Board and staff.”