FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 18, 2016
JIM KERN TO SERVE AS INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Named by the Theatre Cedar Rapids Board of Directors
Planning the search to hire a replacement is underway
CEDAR RAPIDS – Jim Kern, retired Executive Director of Brucemore and former Development Director for Theatre Cedar Rapids (TCR), has been named the Interim Executive Director of the theatre. The TCR Board of Directors made the announcement today.
“After nearly 40 years of TCR involvement, as a performer, guest director, Board of Directors member, Development Director, and current Trustee, I am honored to serve as Interim Director while the Board conducts its search for Casey’s successor,” said Kern. “I assure the community that TCR will not miss a beat during this interval, and we will continue to demonstrate the ambition and resilience that has been the trademark of our history in Cedar Rapids.”
This interim placement follows the departure of Casey Prince who will begin as the new Downtown District Executive Director on November 1 following 10 years with the company. “Theatre Cedar Rapids is one of the most successful community theatres in the country due in large part to the commitment and leadership of Casey,” said Todd Bergen, President of the TCR Board of Directors. “We are very fortunate to have a leader with Jim’s background and experience available during this important transition.” Kern will start effective immediately prior to Prince’s departure as part of the organization’s transition plan.
“Theatre Cedar Rapids has demonstrated tremendous ambition, resilience, and devotion to the mission of education and performance of live theater throughout its nearly 85-year history,” said Kern. “In the past 10 years, Casey Prince has guided the organization to unimagined achievements, and I know first-hand the depth of his passion for and dedication to TCR. The Board of Directors, the Board of Trustees, the TCR staff, the hundreds of volunteers, our cultural and corporate partners, and the tens of thousands of patrons join me in congratulating Casey on a job performed superlatively, and we wish him well in this career change.”
The Board of Directors is currently planning for a search to hire a new Executive Director. Prince will remain involved with the theatre during the transition to ensure a smooth hand off to Kern and the subsequent hire.
About Theatre Cedar Rapids
Among the region’s largest and longest-operating community theatres, Theatre Cedar Rapids is located in the Iowa Theater Building in the heart of downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Founded by regionalist artist Grant Wood, TCR is a nationally-recognized 501(c)3 nonprofit community theatre beginning its 83nd season of quality local programs that reach nearly 70,000 eastern Iowans of all ages. Core goals of the organization center on the quality and accessibility of programs. During the August to July season, the 19 full-time staff, part-time help and contract artists fill more than 3,300 volunteer placements who log nearly 65,000 volunteer hours annually and work together to create an ambitious lineup of musicals, comedies, dramas and classics in addition to providing theatre education programs.