Kate Warner** (Artistic Director) Kate is beginning the second year of her tenure with this 27 year old company. Kate is continuing New Rep’s mission of producing plays that speak powerfully to the essential ideas of our time, fostering new work, expanding our commitment
to education and outreach and promoting New Rep as a major voice in the national dialogue defining the role of theater in our culture.
Prior to coming to New Rep, Kate was Artistic Director of Dad's Garage Theatre in Atlanta,Georgia, where she developed innovations in season planning, business models, educationprograms and audience development. Kate has amassed an impressive history as both a directorand producer as the previous Managing Director/Artistic Associate with Atlanta's Theatrical Outfit, which in December of 2004 moved into its new $5.4 million home, a renovated downtown Atlanta landmark, thus completing an award-winning strategic plan. Her body of directorial work includes, for Dad's Garage: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Skin, and Mojo; for Actor’s Express: The Last Five Years, Pulp, and Octopus; for Theatrical Outfit: Waiting for Godot and The Island; for American Stage: Proof; and for Magic Theatre: Octopus. She has championed new work from playwrights such as Lisa Kron, Alice Tuan, Peter Nachtrieb, Chris Craddock, Kyle Jarrow, Suzan-Lori Parks, Megan Gogerty, David J (Bauhaus), Caridad Svich, Lauren Gunderson, Roberto Aguirre Sacasa, Ross Maxwell, Rolin Jones, David Holstein, John Pierson, Steve Yockey, Heather Woodbury, Chay Yew, and Greg Kotis.
Kate serves as a board member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national service organization for non-profit theatres. She is also a member and facilitator of the Lincoln Center Theatre Directors' Lab in New York, a member and panelist of the Directors Lab West in Los Angeles, and a member of the Society for Stage Directors and Choreographers. In summer 2004, Kate completed the Executive Program for Non-Profit Leaders in the Arts at Stanford Graduate School of Business and the New Artistic Leadership Institute with TCG/Dance USA at the McCarter Theatre.
Recognition for Kate's directing work includes a Suzi Bass Award Nomination for Best Musical 2008, Sunday Paper Top 10 Director 2007, Suzi Bass Award for Best Director and Best Play 2006, and Best Director Readers’ Pick in Creative Loafing's Best of Atlanta 2007 and 2006. She is a graduate of Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI with degrees in Theatre and Anthropology.
Harriet Sheets (Managing Director) joined New Repertory Theatre as Managing Director in Fall 2000, bringing with her experience in human resources, union contracts and negotiations, budgeting and cash flow management, as well as Marketing, Development and Special Events. During her tenure, Ms. Sheets has successfully managed the theatre’s increasing operational budget, while maintaining several years of positive net assets and moving the company from Newton Highlands to Watertown’s Arsenal Center for the Arts. Her management of the Marketing and Development departments has garnered increased growth in subscription and single ticket sales, as well as increased support for annual fundraising events and funding from corporate and foundation sources. Prior to her employment with New Rep, Ms. Sheets was the General Manager at Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT). Ms. Sheets was at MRT for nine years, where she worked as Stage Manager, Production Manager, Operations Manager, and finally General Manager. Ms. Sheets started her theatre career as an Equity Stage Manager and has worked for numerous theatres including The Opera Company with Sarah Caldwell, North Shore Music Theatre, The Wilbur, The Huntington Theatre Company, Worcester Foothills Theatre, Theatre by the Sea in Portsmouth, and the Ogunquit Playhouse. She holds a BFA from Arizona State University, where she met her husband, Dave Brown, Production Manager for Stoneham Theatre.
Bridget Kathleen O’Leary (Artistic and Education Associate) is in her third season at New Rep as Artistic Associate. Most recently, she directed New Rep’s productions of boom, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, and the critically acclaimed production of Fool for Love. Other directing credits include: The Boys of Winter (IRNE Nomination, Best New Play, 2008) for BKS productions; The Devil’s Teacup (IRNE Nomination, Best New Play, 2007) at Boston Playwrights’ Theatre; and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, The American Clock, Much Ado About Nothing, Curse of the Starving Class, Dancing at Lughnasa, and Sarah Kane’s Crave and 4.48 Psychosis, all at Boston University. In 2007, she assisted Artistic Director Wendy C. Goldberg at the National Playwrights’ Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center and worked as an assistant on new plays by Rebecca Gilman and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. Before moving to Boston, Bridget worked in Washington, D.C. with the Olney Theatre Center, Theater Alliance, Cherry Red Productions, Charter Theater, Studio Theatre Second Stage, and Phoenix Theatre DC, of which she was a founding member. Selected D.C. directing credits include: Independence, Parallel Lives, and the creations of Unwrapped and Lulu Fabulous by area playwrights. Bridget received her MFA in directing at Boston University. She lives in Watertown with her husband Chris.
Christine Toohey (Management Associate) is thrilled to join the New Repertory Theatre family. She has worked as the Marketing Associate for the Huntington Theatre Company and SpeakEasy Stage Company, and has experience in management, marketing, and development with Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, the Longwood Players, and ImprovBoston. She is a graduate of Boston University with a B.A. in English and a minor in French Language and Literature. She is a founding member of the Independent Drama Society and also performs on Saturdays as a cast member of ImprovBoston's Family Show.
Renee Sisti (Development Stewardship Manager) joins the New Repertory Theatre family with experience in Development and Marketing along with a passion for the Arts. She graduated from Amherst College in 2006 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and was most recently the Major Gifts Assistant at St. Mark’s School in Southborough. While at St. Mark’s, Renee also coached girl’s lacrosse and ice hockey, both of which she pursues on her own. Renee is thrilled to make her return to the Arts and to build upon her Development foundation at the New Rep.
Gia Podobinski (Marketing and PR Manager) joined New Rep in the spring of 2008. Ms. Podobinski began her career at Golin/Harris, an international public relations firm, where she maintained the brand equity for reputable brands, such as Lysol, Post, and Harry and David. After leaving Golin/Harris, she worked as an independent consultant for non-profits and start-up businesses. Wishing to pursue her passion in promoting the arts, Gia accepted the positon of Marketing Director for Central Square Theater and its two professional theaters, The Nora Theatre Company and Underground Railway Theater.
Desiree Pedrami (Marketing and Group Sales Associate) is in her third season at New Rep. Desiree holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing from Baylor University. She was a part of the first class to graduate with a focus in Arts and Entertainment Marketing at Baylor. Before moving to Boston, Desiree was the marketing intern at Dallas Summer Musicals. She also worked administratively with Baylor University Theatre.
Todd Michael Hall (Audience Services Manager) is happy to return for his seventh season. He held the Box Office Manager position at The Boston Center for the Arts for four years. BA in Theatre/English: The University of Vermont. He has produced shows in Vermont, Boston, and NYC. Set/Light Design: On Guilt, Gender Bender, Rainbow Chaser, The Unemployable Livia Peacock. Acting: Prisoner in Zeitgeist Stage Company’s Far Away, God in The Cart of Thespis’ Everyman. Directing: On Guilt, Rainbow Chaser. Playwrighting: On Guilt, Rainbow Chaser. He is currently working on his first novel. He is also currently a Production Manager with 20 American Dollars, a Boston-based independent film company.
Rachael Donnelly (Development and Front of House Associate) started with New Rep during Into the Woods, and is happy to return to New Rep for her sixth season. While her grandmother wanted her to be a Broadway star, Rachael is more interested in production and development. Rachael has also taught a makeup class for New Rep's 2007 and 2008 Summer Studio and was part of the makeup team for New Rep's 2008 production of According to Tip. Her work as a makeup artist has been seen in such places as the Tribeca Film Festival. She also co-produced the short film Vigilance in 2005.
Joseph W. O’Dea (Production Manager) looks forward to another season at New Rep. He has held positions as: Technical Director for the New Victory Theater in New York City, Master Carpenter for Martha Graham Dance Co. and Technical Staff for David Parsons Dance, Lars Lubovitch Dance Company, and Cortez and Company. He has also worked for The Lincoln Center Festival and the Lincoln Center Christmas Show. Joseph was an instructor in Theater at Salve Regina University in Newport, R.I.
** member of Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, Inc., an independent national labor union