Draft:Casey Reitz

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Reitz in 2024


Casey Reitz
Born1975 (age 48–49)
OccupationPresident & CEO
Years active2019 - present
OrganizationSegerstrom Center for the Arts

Casey Reitz (keisi rɪts; born November 22, 1975) is an American businessman known for his leadership in the performing arts industry. He currently serves as President and CEO of Segerstrom Center for the Arts in California. Reitz has earned many accolades in his career, including a Tony Award for Dear Evan Hansen. Orange Coast Magazine named him a Man of Merit in 2024 for his work at the Segerstrom Center.

Reitz's journey in arts administration began at the University of Alabama, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater. After graduation, he developed his skills at the Actor's Express Theater Company, eventually becoming Director of Development. Seeking further professional development, Reitz pursued a Master of Fine Arts degree in Theater Management from the prestigious Yale School of Drama. During his tenure at Yale, he had a fellowship with the Manhattan Theatre Club under the mentorship of Barry Grove. This experience brought him back to MTC in 2004, where he served as Director of Individual Giving before transitioning to the role of Director of Development in 2006 at the renowned Public Theater, celebrated for its Free Shakespeare in the Park program.

Before his leadership at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Reitz was the Executive Director of Second Stage Theater for nine years, during which he earned a Tony Award for his involvement in Dear Evan Hansen. As President and CEO of Segerstrom Center, a prominent non-profit performing arts institution in Orange County, California, Reitz continues to bring artistic excellence to audiences.

Early Life & Education[edit]

Reitz was born 1975 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He grew up doing theater at JJ Daniell Middle School before going to Sprayberry High School where he continued his theater education and was awarded a scholarship for his pursuit of an acting career.

University of Alabama 1994 – 1998

BA in Theater

Yale School of Drama 2000 – 2003 [1][edit]

MFA in Theater Management

Career[edit]

Actor's Express Theater Company (1998–2000)

  • Development Assistant & Director of Development

Yale School of Drama (2000-2003)

  • Director of Strategic Planning

Manhattan Theatre Club (2002)

  • Fellowship

Web Management Services (2003-2004)

  • Senior Consultant

Manhattan Theatre Club (2004–2006) [2][edit]

Director of Individual Giving[edit]

Reitz served as the Director of Individual Giving at the Manhattan Theater Club after his fellowship with the organization in 2002. During his tenure, he oversaw a capital campaign that secured $35 million for the renovation of the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on Broadway.[3] He also established their Patron Program, a benefactor program for with over 1,000 members who contributed annual donations of $1,800 or more.[4]

The Public Theater (2006–2010) [2][edit]

Director of Development[edit]

During his four years at The Public Theater, Reitz managed all fundraising efforts including corporate sponsorships, individual giving, The Partners Program, major gifts and more. He also managed a $35 million capital campaign to renovate their headquarters at 425 Lafayette St.[5] Reitz served on multiple board of trustee committees including long range planning, nominating finance and executive.

Second Stage Theater (2010–2019)[6][edit]

Executive Director

Reitz served as the Executive Director of Second Stage Theater, one of the leading non-profit theater companies in New York City dedicated to the production of contemporary plays and musicals for 9 years. Reitz was responsible for all administrative, marketing, fundraising, and financial efforts. During his tenure, Second Stage acquired and renovated the Helen Hayes Theater on Broadway, which made second stage the fourth non-profit operating permanently on Broadway.[7] David Rockwell and the Rockwell Group renovated the 106-year-old theater and the project achieved LEED Gold Status.[8] While Reitz served as Executive Director, Hayes Theater held commercial runs of Tony winner The Humans by Stephen Karam and Tony nominee What the Constitution Means to Me by Heidi Schreck. Reitz and Second Stage Theater won a Tony Award for Best Musical in 2017 for Dear Evan Hansen.[9]

Segerstrom Center for the Arts (2019–present) [10][edit]

President and CEO

Reitz began his tenure at the Center during the COVID-19 pandemic which saw the closure of live theater events for 2 years. After reopening began in 2021, Reitz started executing his vision for the Center, securing American Ballet Theatre as the Official Dance Company of the Center [11] and launching the Headliners and Speaker series. In 2023, Reitz was promoted CEO by the Board of Directors, securing his future at the Center. During his tenure the Center has premiered 3 ABT works including Like Water for Chocolate and Woolf Works. They have also commissioned their first musical from Ireland-based theater group Cahoots that will premiere in 2025.[12]

Affiliations[edit]

The Broadway League

League of Resident Theatres

PBS SoCal Board of Directors (2023–present) [13]

Awards[edit]

Year Award Category Work Result Ref
2017 Tony Award Best Musical Dear Evan Hansen Won [9]
2018 Tony Award Best Revival of a Play Lobby Hero Nominated [14]
2019 Tony Award Best Revival of a Play Torch Song Nominated [15]

Shows[edit]

Broadway
Year Title Role Venue Notes Ref
2016 Dear Evan Hansen Producer Helen Hayes Theater Original musical [16]
2018 Lobby Hero Producer Helen Hayes Theater Play revival [16]
2018 Straight White Men Producer Helen Hayes Theater Original play [16]
2018 Torch Song Producer Helen Hayes Theater Play revival [16]
2019 What the Constitution Means to Me Executive Director Helen Hayes Theater Original one-act play [16]
2019 Linda Vista Executive Director Helen Hayes Theater Original play [16]
2020 Grand Horizons Executive Director Helen Hayes Theater Original play [16]
Off-Broadway
Year Title Role Notes Ref
2010 Trust Executive Director Play [17]
2010 Bachelorette Executive Director Play [17]
2011 Wings Executive Director Play [18]
2011 Gruesome Playground Injuries Executive Director Play [18]
2011 By the Way, Meet Vera Stark Executive Director Play [18]
2011 All New People Executive Director Play [18]
2011 Sex Lives of Our Parents Executive Director Play [18]
2011 The Talls Executive Director Play [18]
2012 The Blue Flower Executive Director Play [19]
2012 How I Learned to Drive Executive Director Play [19]
2012 Lonely, I'm Not Executive Director Play [19]
2012 Dogfight Executive Director Musical [19]
2012 The Bad Guys Executive Director Play [19]
2012 Warrior Class Executive Director Play [19]
2013 Modern Terrorism, or They Who Want to Kill Us and How We Learn to Love Them Executive Director Play [20]
2013 Water By the Spoonful Executive Director Play [20]
2013 The Last Five Years Executive Director Musical [20]
2013 Nobody Loves You Executive Director Play [20]
2013 The Tutors Executive Director Play [20]
2013 Murder for Two Executive Director Musical [20]
2014 Little Miss Sunshine Executive Director Musical [21]
2014 The Happiest Song Plays Last Executive Director Play [21]
2014 The Substance of Fire Executive Director Play [21]
2014 Sex with Strangers Executive Director Play [21]
2014 American Hero Executive Director Play [21]
2014 Mala Herba Executive Director Play [21]
2015 Lips Together, Teeth Apart Executive Director Play [22]
2015 Between Riverside and Crazy Executive Director Play [22]
2015 The Way We Get By Executive Director Play [22]
2015 Whorl Inside a Loop Executive Director Play [22]
2015 The Other Thing Executive Director Play [22]
2015 King Liz Executive Director Play [22]
2016 Invisible Thread Executive Director Musical [23]
2016 Smart People Executive Director Play [23]
2016 The Layover Executive Director Play [23]
2016 Friend Art Executive Director Play [23]
2016 Engagements Executive Director Play [23]
2017 A Parallelogram Executive Director Play [24]
2017 Notes From the Field Executive Director Play [24]
2017 Man From Nebraska Executive Director Play [24]
2017 Somebody's Daughter Executive Director Play [24]
2018 Cardinal Executive Director Play [25]
2018 Mary Page Marlowe Executive Director Play [25]
2019 Days of Rage Executive Director Play [26]
2019 Superhero Executive Director Play [26]
2019 Dying City Executive Director Play [26]
2019 Make Believe Executive Director Play [26]

[23]References[edit]

  1. ^ Valdespino, Anne (2019-10-19). "The Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa announces its new president". Orange County Register. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  2. ^ a b Hodgins, Paul (2019-10-19). "Hodgins: Segerstrom Center's New Leader is a Risky but Intriguing Choice". Voice of OC. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  3. ^ Ehren, Christine (December 12, 2001). "MTC Unveils $35 Million Capital Campaign for Biltmore Renovation; House Will Relight 2003". Playbill.
  4. ^ "Patron Program". Manhattan Theatre Club. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  5. ^ "Off-Broadway, Public Theater begins building renovation". New York Theatre Guide. 2017-10-19. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  6. ^ Cox, Gordon (2010-07-14). "Casey Reitz steps to Second Stage". Variety. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  7. ^ Cox, Gordon (2018-02-13). "'Torch Song,' Second Stage and the $64 Million Broadway Bet". Variety. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  8. ^ "Hayes Theater, New York". frameweb.com. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  9. ^ a b "The Tony Award Nominations". www.tonyawards.com. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  10. ^ "Senior staff". Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  11. ^ "Segerstrom Center for the Arts and American Ballet Theatre Announce Three-Year Partnership to Include World Premiere by Alonzo King and the U.S. Premiere of Like Water For Chocolate By Christopher Wheeldon". American Ballet Theatre. 2021-09-09. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  12. ^ "No transcripts, no college loans, just fun at Segerstrom's 'University of Wonder and Imagination'". Daily Pilot. 2024-03-15. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  13. ^ "Board and Management". PBS SoCal. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  14. ^ "The Tony Award Nominations". www.tonyawards.com. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  15. ^ "The Tony Award Nominations". www.tonyawards.com. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g "Casey Reitz". www.playbill.com. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  17. ^ a b "Second Stage Theater". 2st.com. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  18. ^ a b c d e f "Second Stage Theater". 2st.com. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  19. ^ a b c d e f "Second Stage Theater". 2st.com. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  20. ^ a b c d e f "Second Stage Theater". 2st.com. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  21. ^ a b c d e f "Second Stage Theater". 2st.com. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  22. ^ a b c d e f "Second Stage Theater". 2st.com. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  23. ^ a b c d e f "Second Stage Theater". 2st.com. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  24. ^ a b c d "Second Stage Theater". 2st.com. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  25. ^ a b "Second Stage Theater". 2st.com. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  26. ^ a b c d "Second Stage Theater". 2st.com. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
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