"We are proud to appoint Mary Ann as our new Managing Director," says the Theatre's new Board Chair, Michael Marquardt, President of Freeh Group International.  "We conducted a national search and, due to her experience and track record, she immediately rose to the top of the candidates.  We are confident that with the addition of Mary Ann, along with the Theatre's experienced existing staff, we will be in a strong position to meet our goals over the coming year and beyond."
 

While most professional regional theatres in America operate with both a managing director and an artistic director, DTC combined the positions in 2004, creating the Producing Director position filled by Anne Marie Cammarato.  After success and growth in artistic and administrative areas, the staff structure will return to a dual leadership model, with Ms. Cammarato as Artistic Director and Ms. Ehlshlager as Managing Director. As Artistic Director, Ms. Cammarato will provide vision and direction for all work pertaining to programming, artistic staffing, production activities and education and outreach activities.  As Managing Director, Ms. Ehlshlager will oversee all administrative efforts, including fundraising, marketing, front-of-house and financial management. 
 

DTC Artistic Director Anne Marie Cammarato looks forward to the company's future and working with Ms. Ehlshlager.  "In my four years at DTC," she says, "we have accomplished a lot of growth and development, from increases in the marketing and fundraising to internal staff expansion and elevated artistic quality.  It is from this position of strength that we look forward to a significant change in our operations, where we can dedicate time and focus to artistic development and leaps forward in the business of making theatre.  I very much look forward to these changes as Mary Ann's partner, and I believe that together we can move DTC toward becoming one of the leading regional theatres in the nation."

 

Ms. Ehlshlager also served as Project Manager for the Guthrie Theater's new three-theater complex in Minneapolis.  The $125 million project has re-energized the Guthrie's relationship with its community and catalyzed significant economic development along the Mississippi riverfront.
 
Ms. Ehlshlager began her career in arts administration within another flagship regional theater, Washington, D.C.'s Arena Stage, where she worked in marketing.  Ms. Ehlshlager graduated with a B.A. from the University of Virginia and holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in theater management/producing from the California Institute of the Arts.
 
"I feel fortunate to be joining DTC at this particular time.  The upcoming season marks 30 years of sustained artistic strength and DTC's commitment to premiering new work along with classic and contemporary plays. This ensures that DTC is looking to the future as well as building upon the strengths of the past.  I look forward to working with the Board, staff and our many partners to bring that same balance to our administrative efforts and to enhancing our institutional capacity and reach."