CPH Managing Director Collette A. Laisure Ends Tenure
Posted October 7, 2022 in Press Releases
(Cleveland, OH) Cleveland Play House announced today that Collette A. Laisure has concluded her tenure as Managing Director.
Laisure joined the 2015 Regional Theatre Tony Award recipient in February 2021 as Interim Managing Director to support the organizational needs of the non-profit performing arts institution after the death of its long-time Managing Director Kevin Moore.
During the ongoing and increasing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, a search for a permanent executive co-leader was placed on hold in the fall of 2021. Laisure was then appointed Managing Director, the first woman and person of color to hold the position in the institution’s 107-year history.
In June 2022, former Artistic Director Laura Kepley ended her 12-year tenure with CPH, where she served as artistic leader for nine seasons. Regional theatre veteran Mark Cuddy was appointed Interim Artistic Director in July 2022 to work with Laisure in co-leading the country’s premier regional theatre. A search for a permanent Artistic Director is being led by Management Consultants for the Arts and is expected to conclude in November 2022.
Laisure previously served as Vice President and Executive Director of the PNC Fairfax Connection, President and Executive Director of The Presidents’ Council, and Director of the City of Cleveland’s Office of Equal Opportunity and has also held board leadership roles in the theatre industry.
CPH Board Chair Michael J. Meehan says, “Collette’s guidance, advocacy, and insight helped navigate the challenges we faced during the COVID pandemic and venue shutdowns. Cleveland Play House is grateful to Collette for her leadership and for extending her tenure multiple times to assist with the challenges confronting CPH and the theatre industry over the last few years.”
A search for a new Managing Director led by Management Consultants for the Arts is commencing immediately.
