Princeton’s McCarter Theatre names new director

   PRINCETON – Timothy J. Shields, managing director of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater since 1998, has been named to head the McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, where he previously served as general manager.
   The appointment, announced by the center’s board of trustees, is effective Jan. 1, 2009.
   ”I’m delighted that my colleague and friend, Tim Shields, will be returning to McCarter Theatre as our Managing Director,” said Artistic Director Emily Mann. “Tim’s energy, passion and love for the work we create at McCarter coupled with his superlative management skills will bring us new energy to meet the challenges, both economic and cultural, that face all arts institutions in this new era. Tim is right for McCarter at this moment in time, and we are right for him.”
   Joann Mitchell, President of the McCarter Theatre Board of Trustees added, “It is with great pleasure that we welcome back Tim Shields to McCarter. Tim was general manager at McCarter Theatre in the early nineties before leaving to distinguish himself as a managing director. His experience, knowledge and passion for the theater as well as his national reputation can only enhance our work. The partnership of Mr. Shields as Managing Director and Emily Mann as Artistic Director will inspire our patrons, staff and artists.”
 During Mr. Shields’  tenure in Milwaukee,  The Rep’s operating budget more than doubled, ticket and contributed income reached record levels, and statewide tours of Rep productions in 2006, 2007, and 2008 were re-established.
   ”My decision to accept the position at McCarter Theatre represents something of a homecoming, as I worked at McCarter from 1983 to 1992, and most of my family is on the East Coast,” said Shields. “The opportunity to become managing director of a Tony Award winning regional theater in such a great location was simply too hard to pass up.”
   In addition to his work at Milwaukee Rep, Mr. Shields is currently a vice president of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT), the national management association of professional not-for-profit regional theaters. He also serves on the board of: Theatre Communications Group, the national service organization for professional non-profit theater; Milwaukee’s Latino Arts Board; and of the Cultural Alliance of Greater Milwaukee. He was the co-founder and president for eight years of Theatre Wisconsin, the association of professional not-for-profit theaters for Wisconsin. Before arriving at The Rep, he served as managing director of the Geva Theatre Center in Rochester, NY where he led the theater to record ticket sales, donations and operating budget surpluses. Other professional experience spans more than 15 years and includes positions at McCarter Theatre Center; The Children’s Theatre Company and School in Minneapolis, MN; and at the Denver Center Theatre Company. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Drama/Production) degree from Carnegie-Mellon University.