Kathryn M. Lipuma biography

Kathryn M. Lipuma
executive director

EMAIL

Kathryn M. Lipuma has served as the Executive Director of Writers Theatre since March 2007 where she is responsible for overseeing all management, administration and operations for the company. Most recently, she led the planning and construction of WT's new state-of-the-art theater complex, designed by internationally renowned architect and MacArthur Fellow and "Genius" grant recipient Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang Architects, which opened in February 2016. Prior to Writers, Lipuma spent nine seasons as Executive Director at the Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre Company in New York. At Signature, she produced award-winning revivals of Horton Foote’s The Trip to Bountiful, August Wilson’s Seven Guitars and Lanford Wilson’s Burn This and worked with such acclaimed writers as Edward Albee, Lee Blessing, Horton Foote, Maria Irene Fornés, John Guare, Bill Irwin, Romulus Linney, Paula Vogel, August Wilson and Lanford Wilson. During her tenure, the organization enjoyed consistent growth and recognition as well as the launch of Signature Theatre Company's successful $15 Ticket Program. Prior to her time at Signature, she spent six years with Chicago’s Goodman Theatre. Until the 2017-18 season, Lipuma served as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the League of Chicago Theatres, an alliance representing more than 200 Chicago-area theater companies and producers. She is currently the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre and serves as a member of the Arts and Culture subcommittee of The Chicago Network, an organization of 400 leading women of Chicago business, professional, cultural, nonprofit and educational communities. She is also the co-creator of DoNorth, an umbrella organization joining four cultural neighbors - Chicago Botanic Garden, Kohl Children’s Museum, Ravinia Festival and Writers Theatre - to attract new audiences to the cultural, environmental and community activities of the North Shore. She is a graduate of The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

	Education: B.A. in Radio/Television Broadcasting, The George Washington University
	WT start: March 2007
	Favorite WT Production: A Little Night Music
	Hometown: Oak Brook, IL
	Favorite book: Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
	Favorite place on Earth: mom's house at Christmas