CAMBRIDGE, MASS.: Kelvin Dinkins Jr. has been announced as the next executive director of American Repertory Theater. Currently the general manager of Yale Repertory Theatre and assistant dean and acting chair of theatre management at David Geffen School of Drama at Yale, Dinkins will co-lead ART alongside artistic director Diane Paulus. Dinkins will jointly report to the ART board of trustees and the provost of Harvard University beginning on June 1. ART’s last executive director was Diane Quinn, though in some ways his co-leadership role will be somewhat closer to that of Diane Borger, who stepped down as executive producer last year.
“I am thrilled to be partnering with Kelvin on the next chapter of the ART,” said Paulus in a statement. “Kelvin’s leadership in the American theatre is rooted in a deep sense of values and humanity, vast pedagogical and managerial experience, and a passionate love of theatre. I am very excited to work with him on building a transformative future for the ART, especially as we plan for our new home in Allston. I cannot wait to welcome Kelvin to our ART family and our community as our new executive director.”
Added Dinkins in a statement, “I am proud and eager to be joining Diane and the ART’s dynamic staff as the theatre moves into its next chapter of boundless artistry and community building. I join them and the board in committing to a future where our leadership is joyfully accountable and transformational. Collectively, we must now center humanity and restorative practice to lead our re-emerging producing organizations. At ART I see great capacity to expand our approach to equitable and sustainable practices, broadening access, and building intentional partnerships that will help the mission to thrive. I am excited to become part of this community and to join with so many leaders and arts institutions in the area I have long-admired.”
Dinkins serves on the board of directors for the League of Resident Theatres (LORT) and the board of trustees of Yale Cabaret, Princeton University Triangle Club, and Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the publisher of American Theatre. He is also the co-chair of the LORT Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) committee, where he has worked to promote collective action and increase representation in executive leadership in LORT theatres. In addition to being an assistant professor adjunct in theatre management at Yale, Dinkins is the founder of Dinkins Consulting, where he advises individuals and institutions on developing equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism initiatives.
Dinkins’s selection concludes a national search led by a 10-member committee composed of ART trustees,
advisors, and staff, co-led by Andrew Ory, board chair and co-chair of the executive eirector search committee, and Lori E. Gross, associate provost for arts and culture at Harvard University, along with Al Heartley and his team at ALJP Consulting.
