Geva Theatre Center’s executive director, Tom Parrish, will leave
his position this fall to become the new executive director of Trinity
Repertory Company, Geva’s Board of Trustees announced today. Trinity is the
Tony Award-winning State Theater of Rhode Island.
Parrish joined Artistic Director Mark Cuddy in the
leadership of Geva in 2011, and during that tenure, Geva has built the
company’s local and national reputation. The company is nearing the completion
of a $10 million capital and endowment campaign, has acquired new artist
housing, and has renovated large portions of its historic building, all while
operating with positive cash flow each season.
“Tom Parrish has demonstrated himself to be a true asset to
Geva Theatre Center, working tirelessly to improve and strengthen the organization,”
Joanna Grosodonia, Chair of Geva’s Board of Trustees, said in a provided
statement. “Both Geva and the Rochester community have benefited from his
contributions, and we wish him continued success in his career.”
Parrish will remain at Geva through the end of October 2015.
Transition planning has been set into motion, and a search process to identify
a new managing partner to join Cuddy in leadership of Geva has been launched.
Richard Gray, a Vice President of the Board of Trustees, will lead the search
committee, and enlist a national executive search firm to assist in the search.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to co-lead Geva these
past nearly five years,” Parrish said. “This was not an easy decision, but for
both personal and professional reasons, it was simply an opportunity I could
not refuse.”
Parrish says he is encouraged “to know that Geva is in a
better position both artistically and financially to make this change. Geva is
strong not because of any one person, but because we all — artists, Board,
staff, volunteers, donors and audience members — have worked collectively and
collaboratively to take Geva to the next level.”
This article appears in Sep 2-8, 2015.
