Contact: Jason Nodler, Artistic Director
jason.nodler@catastrophictheatre.com
713.522.2723 x2
For immediate release:
Catastrophic Theatre announces departure of Managing Director Kirk Markley
Markley to join Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston (MATCH)
(Houston, TX) Managing Director Kirk Markley announced last week that after five years at The Catastrophic Theatre, he will be leaving this May to join the leadership team at the Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston (MATCH). He leaves behind a great and storied legacy, having nearly doubled Catastrophic’s budget, spearheading the theatre’s innovative Pay What You Can ticket policy, providing leadership for Catastrophic’s move to its current downtown home, as well as his creative input on everything from production to budgeting to the theatre’s inviting pre-show and post-show atmosphere.
Catastrophic’s Artistic Director Jason Nodler expressed gratitude for Markley’s work at the theatre: “Of all of the radically gifted artists and administrators with whom I have had the pleasure to work, Kirk is possessed of one of the most remarkable minds I have ever encountered. His intellectual curiosity is off the charts so, while his training in all things is entirely autodidactic, he makes himself an expert on virtually any issue that might arise. Catastrophic has thrived under Kirk’s leadership. The reliable systems and long-term strategies he has put in place at Catastrophic will make the leadership transition a smooth one; and thanks to his myriad achievements here we are in terrific shape to continue the steady, smart, thoughtful growth and sustainability that has been the hallmark of his tenure. Our loss will surely be MATCH’s gain.”
Says Catastrophic Board President Paul Brockman: “We will miss Kirk and wish him only the best in his new ventures. He has been instrumental in helping build financial stability while enthusiastically supporting the artistic work. We are excited about embarking upon a search for a new Managing Director who will work with Jason Nodler and Tamarie Cooper to move Catastrophic Theatre forward as a premier theatre company.”
Markley said of his impending move: “Working for Catastrophic has been highly rewarding and I have learned a great deal about the challenges and opportunities facing a small arts organization. I will miss everyone involved with Catastrophic, but am looking forward to applying my experience to MATCH in support of a broad swath of Houston’s dynamic small arts scene.”
The search for Catastrophic’s new Managing Director will be conducted by the Board’s Search Committee, in cooperation with staff. Please submit employment inquiries to: Managing Director Search Committee, The Catastrophic Theatre, 1119 East Freeway, Houston, TX 77002 or search@catastrophictheatre.com.
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About The Catastrophic Theatre:
The Catastrophic Theatre imagines, commissions, develops, and produces new work, with a pronounced emphasis on emotional experience, that encourages diverse interpretations and personal associations, through a focus on mystery, poetry and a considered preference for questions rather than answers. We challenge audiences and artists to rethink questions of form, style, and the value of art in our lives; examine the human experience in all its wild, myriad glories; and promote Houston’s profile as a cultural arts destination.