American Theater Company (ATC) kicks off its 26th Season by welcoming new Executive Director Mary Ruth Coffey, and further announces a second production for Kristoffer Diaz's Welcome to Arroyo's at Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, to be helmed by ATC Ensemble Member Jaime Castaneda. ATC also congratulates The Big Meal playwright Dan LeFranc on his recent New York Times 2010 Outstanding Playwright Award.
The ATC Board of Directors today announces that Mary Ruth Coffey has been named Executive Director. Coffey, who most recently worked as the Director of Institutional Giving at The Old Town School of Folk Music, will officially begin her appointment with ATC in September 2010.
"We are honored that Mary Beth accepted the invitation to join us," says Board President Jeff Morof. "She has proven herself a strong leader with exceptional development experience, and has a genuine passion for the arts. We are thrilled to welcome her as a new member of the ATC family."
"Besides being a wonderful person, Mary Ruth's outstanding tenure at Old Town School of Folk Music combined with her years of fundraising experience in Chicago make her the ideal choice to lead American Theater Company into its next 25 years," adds Artistic Director PJ Paparelli. "Mary Ruth's arrival combined with Arroyo's Old Globe production and Dan's prestigious writing award heralds an exciting start to our 26th year."
Mary Ruth adds, "I am thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute to such a fine cultural institution as American Theater Company. It is particularly exiting to join the artistic team and board of directors at this time, in the organization's 25th anniversary year. The 26th artistic season is unsurpassed in quality and diversity, and ATC's educational outreach programs in Chicago schools demonstrate its commitment to ensuring that arts and theater are lifelong opportunities for everyone in our communities. I am eager to help expand these programs in breadth and number as ATC moves forward with its untiring, committed and talented ensemble, staff, board, interns, volunteers and supporters."
Mary Ruth Coffey comes to American Theater Company from the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, where she served as the Director of Institutional Giving. In that capacity, Ms. Coffey was responsible for all institutional revenue development, including foundation, corporate and government relations for both operating and capital expansion needs. She successfully increased revenue in all areas, researching and submitting funding proposals to an expanded list of potential sources, and working closely with the board of directors to increase corporate and individual sponsorship support.
Prior to her work at the Old Town School, Mary Ruth served in executive capacities for twelve years in several Chicago area nonprofit organizations. She was the Executive Director of Connections for the Homeless in Evanston, Sarah's Inn, and Friends of Battered Women & their Children (now ‘Between Friends'). In her executive capacities, Mary Ruth led the organizational strategic planning processes, board development, fundraising, financial management, human resources and operations. She also created special fundraising initiatives that combined mission with art, such as Sarah's Inn's "Survival as Art: Twenty-Four Portraits of Domestic Violence."
Mary Ruth has served on several boards of directors, including as the Treasurer of Woman Made Gallery, and the fundraising chair of Illinois Women's Funding Federation. She holds her Juris Doctor from The John Marshall Law School and her Master of Business Administration from Dominican University. Mary Ruth was also a professor of Organizational Behavior and Organizational Analysis & Design in the MBA program at Dominican. Her published writings include "From Comparison to Paradox to the Dichotomous Nature of International Human Rights and Feminist Perspectives of Female Circumcision as a Violation of the Human Rights of Women", DePaul University International Law Journal; and "Manna From Heaven", Sangam Literary Magazine. Her stage performances include charity productions of The Vagina Monologues at the DuSable Museum, Park West, and Triton College.