Arizona Theatre Company Welcomes Staff
Arizona Theatre Company has added three new administrative staff members, Sue DeBenedette, director of marketing; John Geersten, company manager; and Julia Waterfall-Kanter, director of development.
“Combined, Sue, John and Julie bring more than 60 years of experience in their respective areas of expertise to Arizona Theatre Company, experience that will be vitally important as we lay the foundation for ATC’s next 50 years. We were so impressed with each individual’s talents and experience, and when each of them expressed their main motivation for joining the team was the desire to be in a position where they could have a significant impact on an organization, that sealed the deal for us,” says Billy Russo, ATC managing director, and David Ivers, artistic director, in a joint statement.
DeBenedette was most recently chief marketing and development officer at the Tucson Jewish Community Center after handling marketing responsibilities at Arizona Public Media. Her marketing experience also includes positions as marketing director at the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, director of marketing for PolyGram Records in Australia and in international marketing at A&M Records, New York and Los Angeles.
Waterfall-Kanter has been leading fund development efforts for more than 20 years for organizations that include, but are not limited to, Arizona Opera, Tucson Jewish Community Center, Up With People and Social Venture Partners Tucson.
Geersten served for seven years as managing associate and company manager at Pioneer Theatre Company in Salt Lake City, simultaneously working as an equity stage manager for its new play series and main stage shows. For three seasons, he produced the collaborative Utah charity event Utah Theatre United that raised money through cabaret events for a group of charities. His stage management experience also included the 2009 U.S. Tour of the Royal Ballet School, The Star Wars Trilogy in 30 Minutes for George Lucas and the Los Angeles-based celebrity charity concert “What a Pair!” Before working in theater, his television associate producer credits include the MTV Movie, VH1 Fashion, My VH1 and Big In award shows, and Paul McCartney’s Driving USA Tour.
PHOTOS COURTESY ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY
