Former COO of Theatre Communications Group Joins PTC August 1
[SALT LAKE CITY, UT, JULY 30, 2024] — Pioneer Theatre Company (PTC), Utah’s premier professional theatre, announces the appointment of Adrian Budhu as the company’s new Managing Director. He joins current PTC Artistic Director Karen Azenberg in co-leading the renowned regional theatre located on the University of Utah campus.
“After an extensive, nationwide search, Pioneer Theatre Company is pleased to welcome Adrian Budhu, who brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of effective leadership in arts organizations across the nation,” said PTC Artistic Director Azenberg. “His visionary approach and support of the high-caliber work which Pioneer Theatre Company produces is so thrilling. We’re confident that under his leadership, PTC will continue to grow for many years to come.
Budhu has recently held interim leadership positions as the Executive Director at both the Broadway Advocacy Coalition and The Theater Offensive, as well as the role of Managing Director at East West Players. Prior to these roles, he served as the Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Director at Theatre Communications Group (TCG), a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting professional theatre. Before his work at TCG, Budhu spent five years as the Managing Director of The Theater Offensive (TTO), an LGBTQ nonprofit arts organization based in Boston. His extensive professional background spans multiple sectors, including the GLBTQ Domestic Violence Project, XAMonline.com, Metro Boston newspaper, and John Hancock Financial. His insights on leadership, decision-making, culture, and programming have been featured in American Theatre magazine, and he has presented at numerous conferences and seminars. He has also received various awards for his leadership and advocacy.
Budhu’s previous engagements include participating in the Boston Cultural Change Network, which focuses on social justice through arts and culture, and serving on the Boston Creates Leadership Council, where he contributed to the city’s cultural planning. He has been a board member for TCG and the national board of directors for the Point Foundation. Additionally, he has been a panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts in theatre and musical theatre grants, as well as for TCG’s A-ha! program. Budhu holds a B.S. in Management Studies from Boston University and has completed further training in fundraising, along with earning a Harvard Business School Online Certificate in Disruptive Strategy.
“Since relocating to Salt Lake City last year, I have fallen in love with this community. It’s also been a joy to discover Pioneer Theatre Company, which offers this community something incredibly special,” said Budhu. “Stepping into the role of co-leading Pioneer Theatre Company fills me with immense excitement. I look forward to celebrating the transformative power of theatre and supporting the wonderfully unique work that PTC brings to its audiences.”
Budhu begins his PTC tenure on August 1, replacing Interim Managing Director Diane Parisi, who recently retired after serving the organization for 30 years. The search was led by Cynthia Fuhrman from Tom O’Connor Consulting Group.
In recent decades, Pioneer Theatre Company has gained a reputation for producing top-tier regional premieres, including Les Miserables, Sting’s The Last Ship, and Frank Wildhorn’s The Count of Monte Cristo, as well as world premieres including the pre-Broadway engagement of Shucked, A Distinct Society by Kareem Fahmy, and The Messenger by Jeff Talbott.
PTC’s 2024-2025 Season kicks off September 13-28 with Jersey Boys. For more information about the company, visit PioneerTheatre.org.
PRESS CONTACT
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ABOUT PIONEER THEATRE COMPANY (PTC)
Kicking off its 63rd season in September 2024, the award-winning PTC is Utah’s premiere professional theatre company and a leading arts organization of the West. Led by Artistic Director Karen Azenberg and Managing Director Adrian Budhu, PTC presents world-class productions that celebrate diversity in culture and society, and serve as the connecting bridge between art and scholarship as an affiliate of the University of Utah. For more information, visit PioneerTheatre.org.
