NANTUCKET, MASS.: White Heron Theatre Company has appointed Drew Kowalkowski as the nonprofit’s first permanent managing director. He will join artistic director Lynne Bolton and producing director/co-artistic director Michael Kopko in leading the theatre’s financial, marketing, fundraising, and administrative efforts.
“Drew comes to White Heron with a deep knowledge of for-profit and nonprofit theatre,” said Lynne Bolton, White Heron’s founder and artistic director, in a statement. “As we continue to develop new work, his experience with Broadway theatre will be immensely helpful. But more importantly, he has a love of nonprofit theatre and will work to make White Heron profitable and sustainable for years to come. In addition to new work, our goal is to produce fun, family-friendly entertainment for summer audiences on Nantucket and develop educational experiences based on that work. Drew will be a key to success here as he brings ideas and resources to the company and a strategic vision for sustainability.”
Kowalkowski spent the last three years as chief operating officer of Thompson Turner Productions, a company that manages Broadway and national touring productions, including The Book of Mormon, Mean Girls, Leopoldstadt, and the recent revivals of Company and Death of a Salesman.
Prior to his work on Broadway, Kowalkowski served as operations manager of the Westside Theatre. He previously held the same position at Central Square Theater in Cambridge, Mass. and brings experience in operations, production management, marketing, sales, and fundraising at a variety of arts organizations in New York, Massachusetts, and Colorado, including one summer working at the Cape Playhouse in Dennis, Mass.
In 2008, Kowalkowski founded Wheatland Theatre Co., the only nonprofit arts organization in Lincoln County, Wash. Kowalkowski is in the final stages of completing his master of fine arts in theatre management and producing at Columbia University and currently serves on the adjunct faculty of Gonzaga University, where he teaches students about navigating careers in the American professional theatre.
“Lynne and Michael have created such an incredible theatre here on the island,” said Kowalkowski in a statement. “It’s a beautiful facility, and they bring first-class artists to Nantucket every summer. I’m looking forward to helping them take it to the next level, bringing more people through the doors, creating deeper connections with communities on the island, and achieving greater financial sustainability, which is a tough task when you’re on an island and can only sell 120 tickets a night. The amount of potential I see here is really energizing, and the island has a real theatregoing culture. Every Nantucketer I’ve met so far seems to have a story to tell about their most memorable theatre experiences, and I can’t wait to help bring them even more!”
White Heron Theatre Company is a professional, not-for-profit theatre company producing transformative, professional productions of classical and contemporary plays.
