ZACH Theatre Leadership Expands

ZACH THEATRE LEADERSHIP EXPANDS WITH DYNAMIC, NEW ADDITIONS TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

–––––––––

Mort Topfer Named Co-Chair for ZACH’s Capital Campaign 

Austin, Texas — January 13, 2012 — ZACH Theatre is proud to announce the addition of five new members to the ZACH Board of Directors.

“Our staff and existing board members are excited to welcome these new members to the ZACH board, who bring new energy to an already active and ambitious group of leaders,” said ZACH Producing Artistic Director Dave Steakley. “As ZACH continues to grow, we are extending our reach in the community with a smart, sophisticated and well-connected group of professionals who have a passion for the performing arts and a strong interest in ZACH’s mission to create intimate theatre that ignites the imagination, lifts the spirit, and engages our community.”

ZACH’s incoming board members are: 

• Cindy Hill, who brings with her more than 10 years of marketing and branding experience with the W Hotel, where she helped open and is responsible for communications for the W Austin, which was designed by the Topfer Theatre’s architects Andersson-Wise.

• Dennis Karbach, who returns to the ZACH board after having moved to San Antonio. Dennis’ current residence and relationships in San Antonio will help ZACH expand its regional reach. 

• Laura Meritt, a partner at Wilson Sonsini where her experience with labor law and employee relationships will make her a valuable resource as the ZACH family grows. 

• Bettye Nowlin, a familiar name to ZACH patrons as the donor whose name graces  ZACH’s Nowlin Rehearsal Studio. Her support of ZACH and other philanthropic efforts in Austin are a valued asset.

• Carolyn Seriff, whose experience on other boards in Austin, including the Boys and Girls Club and CASA, brings another dimension of service to ZACH.

• Brian McCall, the former Plano legislator who now serves as Chancellor of the Texas State University System.

“It’s a privilege to work closely with such a team of community- and arts-minded professionals who are sharing their incredible talents with ZACH and Austin at large,” said ZACH’s new Board President Joy Selak. “The momentum that’s happening at ZACH with the construction of the new Topfer Theatre, steady increases in ticket and membership sales and ZACH’s growing national reputation make this an incredible time to be involved with the organization. Wonderful things are happening at ZACH, and our very engaged board is supporting these initiatives with an enthusiastic spirit.”

One of ZACH’s most recent board members and strongest champions is Mort Topfer, who recently agreed to co-chair the Topfer Campaign to raise the remaining funds for the new Topfer Theatre currently under construction on the ZACH performance campus.

“Mort’s presence in Austin as a philanthropist and as an arts patron is so critical to ZACH’s success, and we’re honored to have him join retired AT&T Attorney Donna Snyder in co-chairing such an important endeavor that is literally and figuratively shaping ZACH’s future,” said ZACH Managing Director Elisbeth Challener. “Mort and his wife Bobbi have already done so much for ZACH and they’re just getting started.”

About ZACH Theatre

ZACH Theatre is Austin’s leading professional producing theatre. Founded in 1933, ZACH is the longest running theatre company in Texas, serving more than 170,000 adults and youth annually. ZACH creates its own nationally recognized dramatic, musical and comedic productions that elevate, motivate and stimulate the human spirit under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Dave Steakley and Managing Director Elisbeth Challener. Now in its 78th season, ZACH continues to expand and engage with Austin, adding a third theatre to its Central Austin performance campus. The 420-seat, 26,000-square-foot Topfer Theatre will nearly double ZACH’s capacity while retaining its hallmark intimate theatre-going experience upon its completion in the fall of 2012 following a $22 million campaign. Current sponsors of ZACH theatre are: Applied Materials, Austin American-Statesman, Austin Catering, Holiday Inn-Lady Bird Lake, Kirk R. Tuck Photography, KXAN-Austin News, OnRamp Access, Time Warner Cable, The City of Austin Cultural Arts Division, Texas Commission on the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts. Visit www.zachtheatre.org for more information.

# # #