Robin Kirk Appointed Executive Director of Fredericksburg Theater Company

After conducting a 6-month national search, the Fredericksburg Theater Company (FTC) is pleased to announce Robin Kirk as their new Executive Director. Over the holidays, Kirk moved to Fredericksburg. She enthusiastically jumped in and took leadership of the theater and dedication as rehearsals began for FTC’s next musical production, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” (running Friday, February 9-25).

 

Robin’s candidacy stood out with FTC’s Board of Directors due to her extensive experience working with community theaters, including her work to save seven historic theaters set for demolition. While on Nantucket island, she built a community music center and performing arts center in two historic building shells. Kirk understands the importance of live theater productions to communities and has particular expertise in specialized signature venues in tourism-driven rural or remote destination settings, such as Fredericksburg. Robin has over 25 years of entertainment and education leadership experience serving as a designer, writer, anexecutive at several major studios. 

 

"It is an honor and privilege to be chosen as the Executive Director of the Fredericksburg Theater Company and to serve a community as special as Fredericksburg. Having grown up in a small town very similar to Fredericksburg, I feel extremely privileged in this role to promote and grow a community treasure,” says Kirk.

 

The Fredericksburg Theater Board is especially impressed with Robin’s commitment to youth education and development through theater. The Fredericksburg Academy (FTA) offers academic year courses for children from ages 8 to 22 and a summer camp where students can hone music, choreography, character development, and backstage skills. Under Kirk’s leadership, courses at FTA will expand to include writers’ workshops and student-original staged shows and integrate STEM principles to assist students in their science, math, and core general education concepts and skills.

 

Kirk has a Master of Science degree from the John Hopkins University, where she graduated magna cum laude. Her focus is sustainability in theater arts, STEM and STEAM education, tourism development, and hospitality. Robin’s doctoral work at UCF and Johns Hopkins concentration is edutainment, community engagement, and promoting primary and secondary tourism development. Kirk received a BFA from Loyola University and technical design certification from Tulane University, where she also graduated magna cum laude.

 

Kirk’s prior live performing arts, film, and television experience, commitment to community engagement with organizations such as AmeriCorps, the Centre Theater, Teach for America, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. andher C-suite work at Stay aweSTEM, are expected to serve the Fredericksburg community and theater well. The FTC Board believes they have found “a wonderful and best possible fit to lead the theater into the future.”

 

The Fredericksburg Theater Company Board hopes the community will join us in

welcoming Robin Kirk to her new home in Fredericksburg and the heart of The Texas Hill Country!