MTC Names Michael Barker as New Managing Director

Marin Theatre Company's Board of Directors announced today that it has named Michael Barker as the 46-year-old nonprofit theater company's new managing director. Currently the general manager of Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach, CA, Barker will assume his full-time duties at MTC on February 25, 2013.

"I am thrilled that our Board has unanimously selected Michael as our new managing director," artistic director Jasson Minadakis said. "He is one of the most exciting new leaders in the field of arts administration. His commitment to MTC's mission and values, his extensive training and his impressive national network make him ideally suited to help lead us into our next stage of growth and development. Michael's desire to help us strengthen and improve our commitment to provide a home to Bay Area artists, as well as local and national playwrights, make him welcome addition to our team. I am enthusiastically looking forward to working with him."

Barker succeeds Sandra Weingart, who has been serving MTC as Interim Managing Director since the July 2012 departure of Producing Director Ryan Rilette, who is now the Producing Artistic Director of Round House Theatre in Bethesda and Silver Spring, Maryland.

"After a comprehensive nation-wide search, the Board is delighted to welcome Michael into the MTC family," said MTC Board of Director President Brian Haughton. "His passion for our artistic and educational work, combined with his business acumen and seemingly boundless energy are just the ticket to sustain MTC's upward trajectory in the industry both locally and nationally."

Holding an MFA in theater management from Yale School of Drama and an MBA from Yale School of Management, Barker has served numerous theater companies across the country in a variety of capacities - including the Antaeus Company in Los Angeles as managing director, Yale Repertory Theatre as associate managing director, Seattle Repertory Theatre as managing director fellow and Court Theatre in Chicago as associate director of marketing.

"I am excited to join Jasson and the Board at this exciting time for MTC," Barker said. "I am looking forward to reaching out to Marin County, the Bay Area and beyond to broaden the reach and impact of the important productions and arts education work that is already happening here in spades."

Barker's appointment culminates a five-month national search process, which considered a significant candidate pool that represented a cross section of geography, experience and diversity. The search was conducted by MTC's Search Committee, chaired by board member Dave Chapman.