Theater Works Announces Permanent Leadership

Theater Works has announced that the team who served in an interim capacity after the passing of executive Daniel Schay in April assumed permanent leadership roles July 1. Chris Hamby will serve as the producing artistic director and Cate Hinkle as the managing director of the Peoria performing arts group.

Hamby joined the organization in 2009 as a youth programs manager and later became director of education and outreach. Since then, he began the PuppetWorks programming and acted as the program’s artistic director. He completed the American Express Leadership Academy’s Nonprofit Leadership Management program in 2015 and currently serves as chairman of the board for the ariZoni Theatre Awards of Excellence.

Before coming to Theater Works just last year, Hinkle held the roles of director of development and marketing and marketing director at the Phoenix Boys Choir where she worked for seven years. She is currently a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Theater Works will open its 2016-2017 season with the YouthWorks production of “Les Miserables” on Sept. 9 – 25 and the MasterWorks production of “Noises Off,” running Oct. 7 – 23 at the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts.