While unveiling its programming slate for the 2016-2017 season, The Broad Stage this week announced that Jane Deknatel, who has been with The Broad Stage for six years, most recently as director of development, has been appointed interim executive director and that former executive director, Wiley Hausam, has now become senior artistic advisor.
Hausam, who spent less than a year as executive director, is now moving back to New York for personal reasons, according to a press release provided by The Broad. But with his new title, The Broad made it clear he will still be involved in some capacity.
“[Hausam] has curated our 2016-2017 season thus far and his new title is quite descriptive of how we will be working with us – he will advise of at a senior level on attractions for the future,” Richard Kendall, board chair of The Broad Stage, wrote in an email.
“He is actually changing the way he works with us,” Kendall said. “Moving back to New York is a personal decision of Wiley's. We wanted to be respectful of that decision.”
When discussing the replacement of Hausam with Deknatel, Kendall detailed her history with The Broad.
“Since 2010 Jane Deknatel has been at The Broad Stage, first as a consultant and advisor to the executive director, and then for two years as director of development and advisor to the Board, and now as executive director,” Kendall said.
“Before joining us she had a storied career at CBS, NBC as vice president for movies and mini-series, and then at HBO where she created what we now know as HBO films.
“But most of all she knows to build consensus amount patrons, donors, and board members, and to be able to move an an idea, a project, and an organization forward. That is a great skill to have.”
The Broad also announced that Dale Franzen, who led The Broad Stage from 2008 to 2014, is curating a new series of performances for the new Founding Director’s Series this season.
“Dale has a signature and individual flair for finding the best, tentpole attractions and she knows our audience since Dale put together the seven seasons of programming that attracted that audience,” Kendall said. “I am sure the audience will be stimulated and very pleased by the Founders Series programming.”
Kendall believes Franzen’s series will fit right in with the announced programming for the 2016-2017 season.
“The new Founding Director’s Series joins the great programming we just announced, the on-going Celebrity Opera Recital Series supported by the Lloyd E. Rigler-Lawrence Deutsch Foundation, Beethoven, Bagels and Banter series made possible by a gift from Barbara Herman, and a jazz series that my wife and I support – so it will find itself among an already strong slate,” he said. “It is a thrilling place around here every performance night!”
The Eli & Edythe Broad Stage is located at 1310 11th St., in Santa Monica. For ticket and subscription information, visit www.thebroadstage.com or call 310-434-3200.
