Most recently, Diane was the
Managing Director of the Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts at Northwestern
University, and an Adjunct Lecturer for the Department of Theatre where she
co-created and co-led the Theatre Management Module. Prior to Northwestern,
Diane spent close to 20 years as a professional regional theatre
Executive/Managing Director at Paper Mill Playhouse and George Street Playhouse
in New Jersey, Philadelphia Theatre Company, and the Court Theatre in residence
at the University of Chicago. Diane and Court Theatre received the ABBY Award
for Arts Management Excellence from the Arts & Business Council of Chicago.
Diane has also worked at the Yale
School of Drama/Yale Repertory Theatre, as Managing Director/Assistant
Professor and head of the undergraduate Theatre Management Program at Ithaca
College, and she has taught arts marketing at Chicago’s Roosevelt University. Diane is also co-editor of the American Journal of Arts Management and co-president of the Association of Arts Administration Educators (AAAE) .
She received a B.A. in Drama and a B.A. in Communications from the University
of Washington, and a M.B.A. and a M.A. in Arts Administration from Southern
Methodist University.
Diane is a passionate advocate for
the national, not-for-profit theatre industry, and as a theatre leader,
manager, and educator she has been a champion and producer of new work, and
committed to supporting women and culturally diverse artists and
administrators. She is also a strong advocate for arts administration education
and training programs, management resources and standards of conduct.
Beyond theatre, Diane is interested in advancing local and global women’s
issues, including leadership, education, equal access and pay, and health care.
She is a Past Foundation President of the Rotary Club of Evanston and a Past
President of the League of Chicago Theatres.