Theatre Commons LA Appoints David Shane as Executive Director
TOC Arts Partners is pleased to share that Theatre Commons LA in Los Angeles, California, has appointed David Shane as Executive Director following our extensive national search led by Vice President of Executive Search, Cynthia Fuhrman.
Immediately prior to joining Theatre Commons LA, Shane spent two years at CO_LAB Theater Group, a New York Off-Broadway company that produces original work by, with, and for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He led the organization through a period of significant financial strain and, as Executive Director, executed a dramatic financial turnaround, eliminating a $300,000 operating deficit within the first year and more than doubling operating reserves. At the same time, he increased staffing and salaries and oversaw the development of a new professional touring initiative that brings original work by disabled adult actors into NYC schools serving students with disabilities.
“This foundational moment is an opportunity to build an organization where collaborative decision-making and shared accountability are embedded in TCLA’s DNA as it evolves.” said Shane in the company’s release. “I am eager to serve as a visible and accessible leader within the Los Angeles theatre community, and to represent it to the broader field at large.”
“What makes Los Angeles and Theatre in LA so unique is that it is deeply woven into the fabric of our communities—from neighborhood theatres and artists’ collectives to our larger institutions,” said TCLA Steering Committee member and Center Theatre Group Artistic Director, Snehal Desai in the company’s release. “It is also in a pivotal moment, the structures that have traditionally supported theatre are changing and with that moment comes an extraordinary opportunity to imagine what’s next. We need leaders stepping forward with new ideas, new models, and new ways of connecting with audiences. The hope is that Theatre Commons LA under David Shane’s leadership will do exactly that, give us the opportunity to build on our community’s incredible foundation, to learn from one another, and to create a more connected, resilient, and ambitious future for theatre in this city.”
“TOC Arts Partners have been privileged to work with many theatres in Southern California, so when the opportunity arose to support this cohort of companies working together to make an impact, we were thrilled to be asked,” said Cynthia Fuhrman. “And as a native Angeleno myself, it was particularly heartwarming to work with the steering committee, and help them take this important step forward.”
About Theatre Commons LA
Theatre Commons Los Angeles (TCLA) is a new nonprofit organization committed to transforming the Los Angeles theatre ecosystem by being of service to the greater Los Angeles theatre community. The vision for Theatre Commons LA is to serve as connective tissue between theatre‐makers, institutions, and community stakeholders — building a future where theatrical institutions and artists thrive, audiences reflect the full vibrancy of our region, and the LA theatre community is ensured an advocate at the local, state, and federal levels.
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 100 searches for executive and senior leaders.
Select clients have included Williamstown Theatre Festival, Pioneer Theatre (Salt Lake City), Marin Cultural Center, Ballet Hispánico, Film Forum, 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.
Explore our site to learn more about Our Services, Our Team, and Our Clients. Sign up for email alerts of future searches.