Second Stage Theater has hired Khady Kamara to serve as the New York company’s executive director, starting September 14 before assuming the role full-time January 4, 2021. Kamara is currently the managing director of Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., where she has worked for almost two decades.
“We have a unique opportunity to rebuild and re-imagine our next chapter while ensuring that Second Stage remains an integral part of the New York theatre community at large,� says Kamara. “I’ve advocated for a focused lens on diversity, inclusion, and social justice awareness throughout my 22-year career, and I look forward to being an authentic voice as part of a cultural institution that is actively working to uphold these values.�
Second Stage President and Artistic Director Caroline Rothman said Kamara’s leadership experience and commitment to contemporary American playwrights make her ideal for the role: “It’s a challenging time for theatre, and I am impressed with Khady’s fierce determination to move the institution forward as we start producing again.�While at Arena, Kamara helped with the opening of the Mead Center for American Theater and doubled the non-profit’s subscriber base.
In addition to managing strategic planning efforts with the board of directors, a core focus of Kamara’s career is strengthening community relations and developing new audiences with a focus on diversity and inclusion. She also currently serves as adjunct faculty for the arts management program at George Mason University, EDI co-chair of the League of Resident Theaters, and is a member of the board of directors of Theatre Washington.
Additional recent hires in the New York theatre community:
