Adena L. Varner
Temecula,CA
Summary
I am a visionary creative leader who has served at theatres across the country in multiple creative and artistic capacities. I am a strategist known for authenticity and warmth. My approach to community engagement lives at the intersection of adaptability and thoughtful infrastructure, while connecting and empowering people to build and share their own stories.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Arts Engagement
The Old Globe Theatre
San Deigo, CA
2023.04 - Current
- Develop and lead a comprehensive engagement strategy that connects the theatre's mission to diverse communities across the region
- Design and oversee education, community engagement, and civic dialogue programs
- Build and maintain partnerships with schools, community organizations, and civic institutions to create meaningful collaborations
- Commission and support artists, facilitators and teaching artists in the development of programs that bring together storytelling and community dialogue
- Lead cross-departmental collaboration with artistic, marketing, philanthropy, and production teams to align engagement initiatives with institutional goals
- Recruited, trained, supervised, evaluated and mentored staff members.
- Oversee and Create detailed plans outlining timelines, goals, budgets, staffing needs and other requirements for projects.
- Develop and implement comprehensive strategies to improve operational processes and organizational efficiency.
- Manage budgeting and financial planning processes for the department
- Serve as a public spokesperson for The Old Globe at events, conferences, community conversations, town hall, etc.
- Assessed employee performance against established benchmarks or targets.
- Partnered with staff to create professional development plans to support personal and business growth.
- Prepared presentations for board meetings summarizing key developments within the department
Director of Learning and Community Engagement
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Webster Groves, MO
2020.08 - 2023.08
- Direct TYA plays for young audiences
- Write and adapt classic children’s books into stage plays and site specific playmaking
- Imagine and launch new community conversation series, Represent STL
- Establish new arts integrated in school learning programs
- Serve as lead producer for family and youth programs
- Provide leadership that advances EDI work in strategic planning
- Provides educational leadership, mentoring and instructional support
- Manage outreach and establish strong relationships with school and community partners
Director of Learning and Social Accountability
Baltimore Center Stage
Baltimore, MD
2018.05 - 2020.05
- Models a commitment to ongoing staff professional development in diversity competencies
- Oversee the programming of all Family Series events and activities
- Oversee all educational programming in 30 schools and community centers, and BCS Education Center
- Develop and oversee implementation of community storytelling workshops and other artistic training programs.
- Provides educational and administrative oversight to all BCS educational programming
- Provides vision and oversight for curriculum building
- Recruitment, evaluation and supervision of all program instructors, partner coordination and class instruction
- Ensures compliance with special grants by establishing systems of record keeping and communication both interdepartmentally and with school partners and BCS
- Collaborates with ED/AD and other senior leadership on development and implementation of programs.
- Provides coordination support and instructions for onsite programs like, Camp BCS, Student Matinees, and Drama Club
- Oversee production of the Young Playwrights Residencies and Festival
- Oversee and manage all departmental budgetary requirements
- Prepares departmental budgets and manage resources
Director of Drama
Shiloh Baptist Church
Edgemere, MD
2012.01 - 2020.01
- Teach Intro to Drama class to students ages 5 and up
- Arrange and direct independent dramatic productions
- Coordinate programming and budgeting for dramatic productions
- Produce plays and smaller presentations
- Administrate meetings and rehearsal scheduling
- Coordinate auditions, drama workshops, and venue bookings
- Schedule and mediate production meetings
- Teach drama classes at summer camp for children ages 10-15
Education Program Coordinator
Baltimore Center Stage
Baltimore, MD
2017.08 - 2018.01
- Scheduling and maintaining a calendar of education program events and activities
- Communicating with school partners, educators, students, and families
- Organizing activities in the Eddie C. and C. Sylvia Brown Education Center
- Coordinating student matinees and field trips
- Supervising and supporting a team of professional teaching artists, and interns
- Teaching, and facilitating talk-backs, workshops, and classes
- Conducting classroom observations
- Co-planning and supervising Camp Center Stage
- Co-producing the Young Playwrights Festival
- Tracking education program-related expenses, including data entry and record keeping
- Working closely with the Director of Education and teaching artists to develop curricular resources, including lesson plans, and resource guides for mainstage productions
Education
Master of Arts - Theater Education
Catholic University of America
Washington, DC2020-05
Bachelor of Arts - Theater
University of MD College Park
College Park2008-05
Skills
- Community engagement
- Program development
- Budget management
- Staff mentoring
- Cross-departmental collaboration
- Partnership building
Websites
Accomplishments
Incoming Vice Chair of SAN Airport Arts Advisory Council
Timeline
Director of Arts Engagement
The Old Globe Theatre
2023.04 - Current
Director of Learning and Community Engagement
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
2020.08 - 2023.08
Director of Learning and Social Accountability
Baltimore Center Stage
2018.05 - 2020.05
Education Program Coordinator
Baltimore Center Stage
2017.08 - 2018.01
Director of Drama
Shiloh Baptist Church
2012.01 - 2020.01
Master of Arts - Theater Education
Catholic University of America
Bachelor of Arts - Theater
University of MD College Park