Artistic Director Search
ANNOUNCING OUR NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
AUGUST 23, 2023
Dear Friends,
It is with great excitement that we share the news that Theater Latté Da has chosen Justin Lucero as our next Artistic Director. Hailing from El Paso, TX and Pittsburgh, PA, Justin will relocate to the Twin Cities in mid-October to assume his new role.
Justin joins TLD from his current role at El Paso Opera in El Paso, TX, where he has worked since 2012 and served as Artistic Director for the past five seasons. He also leaves his faculty appointment as Assistant Professor and Associate Area Chair of the John Wells Directing Program at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama, where he taught undergraduate and graduate Directing and was a leader in the strategic advancement of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access initiatives, driving the establishment of a school-wide degree requirement in anti-racist and equitable practices in theater.
In addition to directing nearly a dozen works for El Paso Opera, Justin has enjoyed a robust freelance directing career for professional and academic stages, including past work with Abingdon Theatre Company, Pittsburgh Festival Opera, City Theatre (Pittsburgh), Creede Repertory Theatre, University of Texas El Paso, UTEP Dinner Theatre, the University of Houston, and Scaffolding Theatre, of which he was also Co-Founding Artistic Director. As an assistant and associate director, he has worked with such storied institutions as Oregon Shakespeare Festival, South Coast Rep, and Asolo Repertory Theatre under the mentorship of industry leaders including artistic director-producer Bill Rauch, director-playwright Lisa Peterson, director-choreographer Art Manke, artistic director Michael Donald Edwards, director-choreographer Peter Amster, Olivier-winning artistic director Timothy Sheader, Tony-winning playwright-director Mark Medoff, and Tony-winning director-playwright Frank Galati.
Justin shares, “It is with true enthusiasm that I accept this position and join this inspiring organization and vibrant community. I am absolutely committed to honoring Theater Latté Da’s rich legacy and bright future. I believe unwaveringly in the power of music-driven theater and I take very seriously the responsibilities we have as culture-makers and stewards of the artform. I am so thrilled, eager, and grateful to begin the journey.”
A growing voice in a new generation of arts leadership, Justin was a 2022-23 TCG Rising Leader of Color, a member of the 2023 OPERA America Leadership Intensive, a 2022 member of the artEquity BIPOC Leadership Circle, and currently serves on the TCG Next Generation Task Force. He holds an MFA in Theatre Directing from London’s East 15 Acting School, University of Essex and an undergraduate degree from Texas Christian University.
Justin was selected through a national search led by arts search firm Evolution Management Consultants, in conjunction with Search Chair Glyn Northington and a committee including representatives from TLD’s artistic community, staff, and Board of Directors. The process also provided opportunities for the organization’s artistic community, artists of the global majority, staff, Board, and patrons to provide input on the search and help identify the most important qualities for TLD’s next artistic leader.
Justin’s extensive knowledge and obvious passion for musical theater and opera, his imaginative artistry, and his kind and collaborative leadership style are deeply aligned with the values that define Theater Latté Da and set it apart. His unique vision is a great match for who we currently are, but also for who we hope to become. We believe he has so much to bring to our Minnesota arts community, and we look forward to creating opportunities in the coming months for you to join us in welcoming Justin to the Twin Cities.
As we enter a new phase of artistic leadership and prepare to launch our 26th season, TLD has never been stronger. Because of the support of our patrons–especially our dedicated subscribers–our artistic quality, financial stability, and administrative excellence have never been higher. Thank you for continuing to bring your energy and enthusiasm to the Ritz as we create new and reimagined work that makes impactful connections among story, music, artist, and audience. We are truly grateful, and we look forward to seeing you at the theater very soon!
Cara Sjodin, Board Chair
Elisa Spencer-Kaplan, Managing Director
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
UPDATED AUGUST 23, 2023
What steps were taken to find the new Artistic Director?
The search process for TLD’s next Artistic Director was completed in August, and we we announced Justin Lucero as our new Artistic Director on August 23, 2023. Glyn Northington, Vice Chair of the TLD Board, served as Chair of the Search Committee and led our search committee, working in conjunction with our search partners Tiffany Vega-Gibson and Leandro Zaneti of Evolution Management Consultants (EMC), a BIPOC-led firm with substantial experience in this work. EMC and the Search Committee distilled input from the Twin Cities artistic community, Board of Directors, donors, artits of the global majority, and TLD staff to develop priorities and core competencies for the next Artistic Director. Initial interviews were conducted via Zoom, and finalists each spent multiple days in the Twin Cities in a process that included interviews with key staff and Board leadership, as well as a directing demonstration and presentation for the full TLD Board, staff, and search committee.
Who led the search?
The Search Committee was chaired by TLD Board Vice Chair Glyn Northington. An 11-member committee consisting of TLD Board members, staff members, and artistic community stakeholders was convened and worked alongside our consultant team from EMC to navigate a successful process. The committee was intentionally assembled to include diverse representation by race, gender, age, profession, and relationship to TLD. TLD senior staff members were consulted in the selection of the search firm.
When did Peter leave?
Peter concluded his role as TLD Artistic Director on June 30, 2023. His last production as Artistic Director was Next to Normal, which closed a critically acclaimed run at the Ritz Theater on July 23.
Where did Peter go?
Peter has assumed the role of Producing Artistic Director of Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, Florida. Asolo Rep is the largest Equity theater in Florida and the largest repertory theatre in the Southern United States. It was established in 1959 and was a founding member of the prestigious League of Resident Theatres (LORT). Since its inception, Asolo Rep has had a robust partnership with Florida State University and the highly acclaimed FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training.
When will a new artistic leader be announced, and when will they start their work at TLD?
Justin Lucero was announced at TLD’s next artistic director on August 23, 2023. His first day at TLD will be October 16, 2023.
Who is leading TLD until the new artistic director starts their role?
With the the 2023-2024 season having been selected and announced, the TLD Board and staff are confident in the current leadership and staff team to run the TLD business until Justin Lucero joins us in October. Managing Director Elisa Spencer-Kaplan, Associate Artistic Director and Director of New Work Elissa Adams, and other senior staff members have indicated they intend to remain in their positions, providing continuity of leadership during the artistic director transition.
Who selected the 2023-2024 season?
Peter Rothstein led the selection of the 2023-2024 season in partnership with Associate Artistic Director/Director of New Work Elissa Adams and other members of TLD’s senior staff team. The season was announced on June 7, 2023 and may be found here.
How were TLD’s stated goals around anti-racism and IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access) be reflected in this process?
TLD recognizes the opportunity and the great responsibility we carry in determining who will lead our organization in its next chapter. We acknowledge that BIPOC individuals have long been underrepresented at the highest levels of theatrical leadership in the United States. TLD incorporated anti-racist and equitable practices into the search and selection process for this position and intentionally selected EMC as our search partner because they share our philosophy around IDEA. Our process resulted in significant BIPOC representation among candidates at all stages of the process.
You say you conducted a national search. Does that mean you did not consider candidates from Minnesota?
While TLD chose to work with a search firm with experience recruiting arts leaders at the national level and sought candidates from across the country, we understood that there were likely many qualified individuals in our local community. We value the unique knowledge and experiences of artistic leaders with Minnesota roots and were heartened to see a number of exceptional local candidates apply and continue through the late stages of the selection process. While our new artistic director will be coming to us from out of state, we remain deeply committed to Minnesota artists and audiences, and a demonstrated understanding of that value was a significant factor in the search process.
How was community input gathered and considered?
Our search partners from EMC joined us in March for a 3-day site visit during which they experienced our artistic work and engaged in targeted in-person meetings with a range of groups including TLD staff, Board, artists, donors, and members of the Global Majority. This work, and input acquired through follow-up surveys, formed the the basis for the final job description, responding to what the many stakeholders of TLD shared that they considered important for our next artistic leader. In addition, local BIPOC arts leader Harry Waters was engaged to assist in recruiting and provide insights on the Twin Cities arts community that may be less familiar to consultants coming from outside the state. Finalists met the full TLD Board, staff, and Search Committee as part of the final selection process, and those groups had the opportunity to provide feedback on each of the finalists to inform the selection of the new Artistic Director.
What opportunities were there to celebrate Peter?
We were excited to celebrate all Peter has done for TLD and our arts community and send him off to his next chapter with our best wishes! A gathering planned by members of the Twin Cities theater community was held in mid-June with TLD’s support and collaboration. A private celebration with TLD Board and staff was held in late June. On August 8, a group of friends and family gathered at the Ritz Theater for a ceremony naming the stage of the Ritz Theater in Peter’s honor as The Peter Rothstein Stage. We will gratefully receive and forward along any well wishes our community may want to send to Peter care of Theater Latte Da at 345 13th Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413 or at info@latteda.org.
What opportunities will there be to get to know Justin?
We look forward to bringing a strong new leader not only to TLD, but to the Minnesota arts community. Justin has shared that he is eager to learn and become part of the Twin Cities. Once he has arrived, we will develop opportunities for our stakeholders and the braoder community to get to know Justin. We will share more information as plans develop.
A LETTER FROM PETER ROTHSTEIN
JANUARY 23, 2023
Dear Friends,
I write today with a heavy but hopeful heart. After 25 years I’ve decided it is time to pass the baton to the next artistic leader of Theater Latté Da. I have accepted a position as the Producing Artistic Director of Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, Florida. This was the most difficult decision of my professional life, but I am excited for this new challenge and confident that Latté Da will thrive in its next chapter.
Theater by its very nature is collaborative, with the final and most important collaborator being you – the audience. No one does it alone, and I am incredibly proud of what we have created together. You have made me a better artist and a better human being.
Asolo Rep began in 1959; it is the largest Equity theater in Florida and the largest repertory theatre in the Southern United States. It was a founding member of the prestigious League of Resident Theatres (LORT), and since its inception has had a robust partnership with Florida State University and the highly acclaimed FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. For more than six decades the company has created work of the highest caliber; I am honored to lead its next chapter.
I leave with great faith that the best is yet to come. Theater Latté Da is poised to soar with new energy, new ideas and new endeavors. The company is on very solid ground and, thankfully, audiences have quickly returned after the pandemic with strong subscription and single-ticket sales. We are commissioning and supporting the development of exciting new work, investing in the future of the American Musical Theater. And we are employing more artists and theater-makers than ever before!
This is not good-bye; Minnesota has always been my home and I am certain this absence will only make my heart grow fonder. My final day will be June 30th, giving us six months to navigate this transition. Our amazing Board of Directors is already putting plans in place for a national search to find our next artistic leader. I hope you will give that person the same trust and care you have so generously given me.
A few years ago, researchers at The University College London found that audiences’ hearts actually synchronize while watching live theatre. The team monitored audience members during performances, and found their hearts responding in unison, with their pulses speeding up and slowing down at the exact same rate. I find this deeply profound, but I guess it’s something I’ve known all along, because I’ve felt it. Thank you for sharing your heartbeat.
With gratitude and love,
Peter Rothstein
