Theatre for a New Audience (TFANA) has named Dorothy Ryan as the new Executive Director, and Arts Consulting Group (ACG) extends its congratulations on her leadership appointment. She began her tenure on September 1, 2025.
Founded in 1979 by visionary Jeffrey Horowitz, TFANA is a New York home for Shakespeare, and other classical and contemporary playwrights, which nurtures artists, culture, and the community. With Shakespeare as its guide, TFANA explores the ever-changing forms of world theatre and builds a dialogue spanning centuries between the language and ideas of Shakespeare and diverse authors, past and present.
Since she first joined TFANA as Managing Director in 2003, Ryan has been an instrumental force of change and growth for the organization. Beyond her work developing Polonsky Shakespeare Center, under her leadership, TFANA has expanded its reach and impact, including its renowned arts education programs serving New York City public schools. In this prolonged era of industry-wide hardship, Ryan’s experience fearlessly and dexterously navigating the financial crash of 2008 and the COVID-19 pandemic—and helping bring the organization healthily through its ongoing aftermath—makes her uniquely positioned to continue to ensure the company’s success and impact, even in the most challenging moments.
Ryan says, “I am thrilled to continue my immensely fulfilling work with TFANA in this new and expanded role, and to be partnering alongside such an inspired and compelling Artistic Director as Arin Arbus. I look forward to further collaboration with Arin, the Theatre’s Board, artists, audiences, and generous supporters. Together, along with our talented and dedicated staff, we will build on Jeffrey Horowitz’s magnificent accomplishments, which have made TFANA the dynamic theatre and vibrant artistic center that it is today.”
Before joining TFANA, Ryan held senior fundraising roles at leading New York cultural institutions, including the 92nd Street Y and Brooklyn Museum. She also served as Visiting Assistant Professor at Pratt Institute’s Arts and Cultural Management Program. A graduate of Brown University, she began her career in classical music artist management and has held management positions at Chautauqua Opera, Opera Ensemble of New York, and Eugene Opera. A longtime Brooklyn resident, she was honored as a Brooklyn Woman of Distinction in 2014.
Search Committee Chair Josh Weisberg says, “The search committee was delighted to recommend Dorothy as the winning candidate for the position after a rigorous and competitive process that took place over many months. During the process, Dorothy made it clear, through her insights and analysis, that she had a strong vision for how to lead the organization forward in collaboration with Arin.”
ACG is the leading provider of hands-on interim management, executive search, revenue enhancement, strategic planning & community engagement, and facilities & program planning and research services for the arts and culture industry. ACG consultants are located in communities across the United States and Canada to best serve the needs of our clients. ACG team members have decades of combined senior leadership experience in every artistic and cultural discipline and area of functional management expertise.