JOIN THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OR THE ADVISORY BOARD

Help build a theatre town.

Crescent City Stage is a professional nonprofit theatre company with an educational studio on Magazine Street, working to make New Orleans a theatre town. We are looking for people who believe in that vision and want to help us build it, either as a member of our Board of Directors or our Advisory Board.

TWO WAYS TO SERVE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors is our governing body. Directors oversee the company's finances and direction, make an annual personal gift, and help raise the resources we need to grow.

  • The Board of Directors is the governing body of Crescent City Stage. Directors are legally responsible for the company's finances, direction, and integrity, and they are the people who help us grow the resources to do the work. This sheet tells you plainly what serving involves, so you can decide whether it is right for you before you apply.

    • Take part in discussing, developing, and approving the policies that guide the company

    • Know our priorities, programming, and initiatives, and oversee the work without managing it day to day

    • Review and monitor income and expenses, and review and approve the annual budget

    • Protect the reputation of the company by acting with integrity, disclosing conflicts of interest, and following our conflict of interest policy

    • Treat everyone involved with the company with respect

    • Appoint, support, and oversee the Executive Director

    • Board meetings at least quarterly, with an expectation of attending at least 75% each year

    • Service on at least one standing committee, plus any special meetings that come up

    • Attendance at one performance of each main stage production

    • Term: two years, as set in our bylaws.

  • Each director is expected to make an annual personal contribution of $2,500, given within the calendar year and due by January 31. Directors who join after January 31 give within 30 days of their term start date. A gift from someone who joins in the last three months of the year counts toward the following year.

    Directors also help raise resources for the company: working with staff on how gifts and in-kind contributions are tracked, taking part in planning and promoting fundraising events, speaking about our work, and joining development opportunities. We ask every candidate the same questions about giving and fundraising, so that no one is assumed to be able or unable to give.

  • We want you to know this before you join. Under our bylaws, the company's Members are its Founding Members, Elizabeth Newcomer and Michael A. Newcomer, together with the sitting directors. The Members appoint and remove directors, and the bylaws can be amended by the Members. Board decisions require a majority vote of directors present, affirmed by a majority of the Founders present and entitled to vote on the matter, subject to our conflict of interest policy. Our bylaws are available to every candidate.

  • Crescent City Stage does not currently carry directors and officers (D&O) liability insurance.

    • The Executive Director will provide quarterly financial reports and a draft annual budget before the meeting where it is discussed and approved

    • You can call on the Executive Director or Board Chair to discuss the company and your questions will be answered thoroughly and honestly

    • Staff and directors will respond with honesty and transparency

    • You will be told promptly about any issue that could have a major impact on the company, its staff, or the Board

    • Before you decide, we will share our bylaws, our most recent Form 990, and current financial statements

    • Miriam Hollar, Board Chair

    • Lorene Chesley, Vice Chair

    • Michael A. Newcomer, Secretary & Treasurer

    • Cindy Beerworth

    • Elizabeth Newcomer

  • Interested? Complete the application on this page.

ADVISORY BOARD

The Advisory Board is a community of champions who open doors, spread the word, and support our work, without governing responsibilities.

  • Advisors are champions of Crescent City Stage: people who open doors, spread the word, and help us make New Orleans a theatre town. The Advisory Board offers advice and support. It does not govern the company.

  • Advisors do not vote on company matters, set policy, oversee staff, or carry legal or fiduciary responsibility. Governance belongs to the Board of Directors. The Advisory Board is convened by the Artistic Director, with staff support from the Executive Director.

    • Size: 3 to 15 members

    • Term: one year, renewable for up to three consecutive terms by invitation from the Artistic Director

    • Meetings: quarterly, in person, on Zoom, or hybrid

    • An Advisory Board Co-Chair may be appointed each year to help with engagement and meeting facilitation

    We aim for an advisory circle that reflects the racial, cultural, and geographic communities Crescent City Stage serves.

    • Share our events, productions, and programs with your networks

    • Introduce us to potential donors, partners, and sponsors

    • Tell people about Crescent City Stage when they ask what great theatre in New Orleans looks like

    • Share our content on social media (we provide ready-to-go posts, talking points, and links)

    • Attend at least one performance of each production

    • Come to other CCS gatherings when you can, such as table reads, tech lunches, and season announcements

    • Help distribute yard signs, postcards, and other materials in your neighborhood and networks

    • Provide snacks for creative teams during rehearsals, or sponsor a crew lunch on a tech day.

    • Early word on productions and programming decisions

    • Invitations to rehearsals, table reads, and tech

    • A front row seat to something being built from the ground up

    • A community of people who love what we are doing

  • Advisors uphold the mission and values of CCS, keep confidential what is shared in meetings, disclose any conflicts of interest, and speak for the company only in line with approved messaging.

  • Advisors are reviewed each year based on participation, engagement, and annual giving. Membership may conclude by mutual agreement if expectations are not met.

    • Brandon Berger

    • Sara Ruffin Costello

    • Michelle Goehring

    • Susannah Lipsey

    • Swathi Narra

    • Daniel Shanks

    • Pierre Villere

    • Katherine Westerhold

  • Interested? Complete the application on this page.

HOW IT WORKS

  1. Read the expectations for the group you are interested in.

  2. Complete the application below and upload a short bio or resume.

  3. Two members of our team will schedule a conversation with you.

  4. If it feels like a good fit on both sides, we will invite you to serve.

Applying does not guarantee a seat, and we ask every applicant the same questions.

Questions before you apply? Write to Executive Director, Michael A. Newcomer.