GARRISON, N.Y.: After a search conducted by the Tom O’Connor Consulting Group, Kendra Ekelund has been selected to be the new managing director of Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival (HVSF). Ekelund will officially begin her role as managing director on Nov. 7, replacing interim managing director David J. Roberts, who served in the role after the departure of former managing director Kate Liberman.
“As we approach year-end, there is so much to celebrate for HVSF,” said artistic director Davis McCallum in a statement. “Our first season in our new home has given us a renewed sense of excitement about HVSF’s bright future, and now we have the thrill of welcoming Kendra, a seasoned leader and performing arts aficionado, as our new managing director. I know her passion and expertise will be indispensable to our success, and I am honored to partner with her as we continue to evolve as an organization.”
Ekelund previously served as the general manager of the Jacob Burns Film Center (JBFC) in Pleasantville, N.Y. Ekelund was responsible for managing the organization’s finances, capital projects, human resources, cinema operations, technology, and systems. At JBFC, Ekelund welcomed over 200,000 visitors annually and expanded its theatre facility from three to five screens. She also improved the organization’s financial sustainability, took a leadership role in strategic and master planning, and helped form and manage their Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility committee. As a community-focused arts leader, Ekelund’s nonprofit management work centers around inclusion, accessibility, antiracism, and financial sustainability, with a deep commitment to empowering and uplifting artists.
“I am honored and overjoyed to be joining HVSF,” said Ekelund in a statement. “As an audience member, I have been endlessly inspired by HVSF’s classical yet timely productions in breathtaking natural settings, which bring us outside of ourselves and open our hearts to be connected to shared human experiences. It is an absolute privilege to partner with Davis McCallum to help build a strong foundation for HVSF to thrive in its new home.”
Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival was founded in 1987 as professional nonprofit theatre with a mission to engage the widest possible audience in a theatrical celebration of our shared humanity. As of 2020, the organization had an annual budget of approximately $1.79 million.
