Next Act Theatre is pleased to announce that Kerri Kilbourne has been hired as our new Managing Director. Kerri was hired after a two-month national search and will assume the role immediately. She is the first person in the position of Managing Director at Next Act Theatre since 2014.
Kerri joins Next Act Theatre after spending several years in the private sector with Fortune 500 companies including Corning, Avery Dennison, BEHR Paints and Bostik (formerly Findley Adhesives). She brings experience beyond engineering and design (with a BSEE from Clemson University); she has also worked in strategic marketing, led customer service teams and worked cross-functionally with finance, research and development, product management, sales and marketing communications.
From 2014-2018, Kerri served as a board member of Next Act Theatre. As an employee of Bostik, she volunteered as a United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF) campaign leader for several years. She also served as an Advisory Panel Member for Milwaukee Repertory Theater in 2016 and 2017. Prior to that, Kerri served as a board member for Habitat for Humanity in Ohio and California and as a community mentor in the Finger Lakes Region of New York.
“To say that I am excited to join Next Act Theatre in a full-time capacity is an understatement! Next Act is one of the first, and most compelling companies, theater or otherwise, to which I was introduced when I moved to Milwaukee in 2013. I have never lost my passion for this theatre and I am thrilled and honored to join Cody, the staff and the board of directors in seeing Next Act Theatre continue its excellence in delivering thought-provoking and discussion-inspiring theatre,” said Kerri. “I look forward to leveraging the skills and experience I have gained from years in corporate leadership to build on Next Act Theatre’s already rich history.”
Kerri joins Cody Estle in the leadership of Next Act Theatre. Cody was hired as Next Act’s Artistic Director in October 2022, succeeding Producing Artistic Director David Cecsarini. As Managing Director, Kerri will share responsibilities with Estle to develop and execute the strategic plan for Next Act Theatre.
“I am thrilled to begin this exciting partnership with Kerri,” said Cody. “I’m grateful for the breadth of experience she brings to Next Act Theatre through a variety of pivotal leadership roles critical to ensuring the future of this organization for many years to come.”
Next Act Theatre’s staff and Board of Directors are excited to welcome Kerri.
“The decision to hire Kerri was pretty straightforward,” said David Anderson, President of the Next Act Theatre Board of Directors. “She has successfully managed sales units, marketing groups and customer service centers. She has managed budgets and people. She brings a tremendous wealth of business experience to the position of Managing Director. I believe she and Cody will be a terrific pair leading Next Act forward.”
We hope you will join us in welcoming Kerri to the Next Act Theatre family!