Ogunquit Playhouse Announces Michael Dix Thomas as Director of Education and Community Engagement
TOC Arts Partners is pleased to announce that Ogunquit Playhouse (Bradford T. Kenney, Executive Artistic Director; Deborah Warren, Managing Director), in Ogunquit, Maine has appointed Michael Dix Thomas as Director of Education and Community Engagement following our extensive national search led by our Vice President of Organizational Strategy, Dr. Edie Demas.
Michael Dix Thomas will lead the strategic expansion of the Playhouse’s Education and Community Engagement Department, overseeing the Arts Academy and advancing a multi-year plan to transform the organization’s educational footprint into a year-round, professionally driven training and community initiative as shared in the company’s release.
A Maine-based arts leader, director, and educator, Thomas most recently served as Education Director at Portland Stage, where he designed and implemented year-round programming reaching more than 10,000 students annually across Maine and Southern New Hampshire. During his tenure, Portland Stage more than doubled student participation in its programs and saw significant increases in enrollment and education-based revenue. His leadership spanned in-school programs, touring productions, summer intensives, apprenticeships, and professional development for educators.
“Michael brings both artistic rigor and administrative excellence to this role,” said Bradford T. Kenney, Executive Artistic Director in the company’s release. “He understands what it means to train the next generation at a professional standard while building meaningful community relationships. This appointment represents a major step forward in ensuring that Ogunquit Playhouse is not only a producing theater of national caliber, but also a year-round educational home for artists and audiences alike.”
Managing Director Deborah Warren added, “This is a transformational investment for Ogunquit Playhouse. Education and community engagement are central to our long-term sustainability, our mission, and our fundraising priorities. Michael’s proven ability to expand programming, secure partnerships, and build financially responsible models makes him the ideal leader to take this department into its next chapter. His work will strengthen our impact across the region and ensure that education is embedded in the future of this institution.”
Michael Dix Thomas shared in the release, “Ogunquit Playhouse has long been synonymous with excellence in American theatre. I am honored to join its leadership team and to build programs that reflect that same level of artistic integrity and accessibility. Theatre has the power to build confidence, connection, and community. I am excited to expand the Arts Academy into a year-round hub for training and to deepen relationships with schools, families, and community members throughout Maine.”
“This search was driven by Ogunquit Playhouse's clear vision for what education and community engagement can mean for a producing theater of this caliber, and their commitment to embedding that work at the center of their mission made it an exciting process from the start,” shared Edie Demas from TOC Arts Partners. “Michael stood out for his ability to combine artistic depth with operational strength. He brings the strategic thinking and community-building instincts to turn vision into lasting impact.”
About Ogunquit Playhouse
Ogunquit Playhouse, established in 1933, stands as one of America's most respected regional theaters, presenting world-class productions in the heart of coastal Maine. The institution's commitment to artistic excellence has earned national recognition, with productions regularly transferring to Broadway and launching careers of theater luminaries. The Playhouse maintains an economic impact that extends throughout Southern Maine while preserving its intimate, community-centered character.
About TOC Arts Partners
TOC Arts Partners (formerly Tom O’Connor Consulting Group) is a national strategy and executive search firm for arts and culture organizations. Our team of seasoned arts leaders brings decades of first-hand experience in organizational strategy, capital project transitions, and operational excellence for arts institutions. We’ve had the privilege of working alongside more than 150 arts and culture client partners in 25 states and across 11 unique genres, from stages to screens, museums to municipalities. These include both our strategy and executive search clients—including over 90 searches for executive and senior leaders.
Select clients have included Williamstown Theatre Festival, Pioneer Theatre (Salt Lake City), Marin Cultural Center, Ballet Hispánico, The Hult Center for the Performing Arts, The Metropolitan Opera, New York Theatre Workshop, The Moth, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Dramatists Guild Foundation, and more.
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