MILL VALLEY, CALIF.: After a national search, Marin Theatre Company has announced that Meredith Suttles has joined the company as managing director, effective April 8. She will succeed Keri Kellerman, who began in the position in 2016. Suttles has had a long and distinguished career in senior management in performing arts organizations, including TheatreWorks USA, Soho Repertory Theatre, Theatre Communications Group, New York City Opera, and the Public Theater.
“I am delighted to welcome Meredith to our company and community,” said MTC artistic director Jasson Minadakis. “Meredith’s unique vision and innovative ideas about new work development and organizational structure are exactly what our company and the American theatre needs to meet the challenges and opportunities of this unprecedented time. Her experience in and passion for strategic planning and fundraising will have immediate impact upon our organization. Meredith’s proven commitment to compassionate leadership and community building will be the foundation of our company’s continued growth.”
Suttles brings long experience in management, fundraising, and strategic planning to MTC, the 54-year-old theatre whose mission is to engage theatre artists and community through challenging plays and quality education programs that inspire, educate and encourage empathy. MTC has styled itself as a home for American playwrights to develop and produce new plays that tell the stories of our time.
Known as a committed and passionate leader in her field, Suttles has gained the confidence of some of the industry’s best and brightest.
“Meredith Suttles is one of the most brilliant, compassionate innovators in our field,” said Hana S. Sharif, artistic director of St Louis Repertory Theatre and the director of MTC’s 2019 production of Ayad Akhtar’s The Who & The What, in a statement. “The depth and rigor of her intellect is only paralleled by her passion and commitment to the people and communities she serves. Meredith’s tenure as managing director of MTC is a gift to this region. I could not imagine a more compelling leader than Meredith Suttles to help expand Marin Theatre Company’s rich legacy and guide the theatre into a thriving, sustainable, thought leading future.”
“I’m honored to join Marin Theatre Company,” said Suttles in a statement, “and I look forward to partnering with the exceptional staff and board to help lead the organization through its next phase of growth. I’m excited to become more acquainted with the beautiful city of Mill Valley and continue building and strengthening the impact that the organization has on the local, state, and global community. Together, we can build a future for MTC that not only produces powerful art but also empowers people.”
Founded in 1966, the mid-sized Marin Theatre Company is the leading professional theatre in the North Bay Area. It is committed to the development and production of new plays, and has education programs serving more than 4,500 students from over 40 Bay Area schools each year.