David B. Byrd Named Managing Director of the Clarence Brown Theatre

David B. Byrd, Managing Director of the Clarence Brown Theatre

The Clarence Brown Theatre, a LORT Theatre in residence at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, has named David B. Byrd as Managing Director.

“After a national search which gathered a pool of more than 50 applicants, we are very excited to have identified and selected David Bryant Byrd to be the next Managing Director for the Clarence Brown Theatre. David brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm and we are looking forward to the fresh energy he will infuse into the company,” said Bill Black, chair of the search committee.

David will partner with the Artistic Director and UT Theatre Department Head, Calvin MacLean, in the organizational and strategic oversight of a production program which includes a mix of professional and academic offerings. Additionally he will participate in the planning and implementation of all theatre productions; supervise the box office, promotions, marketing, front of house, and production budgets; work with the Advisory board; develop support and recognition for the Department of Theatre’s programs through the generation of grants and other fund-raising; and serve as a liaison with local, regional and national organizations.

“David brings solid expertise, experience and enthusiasm to the CBT. We welcome him to our community and to the mission of our theatre. We are certain that he will help bring professionalism to our operation as well as deep commitment to teaching and training. We all look forward to working with him,” MacLean said.

Most recently, David served as Director of Marketing at Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, CT. While at WCP, he was responsible for all organizational marketing initiatives for the historic regional theater, including budgeting, strategic planning, and patron services in addition to numerous special projects. Prior to his tenure at WCP, David was Director of Marketing for the American Dance Festival at Duke University in his native North Carolina.

David began his career at Triad Stage in Greensboro, NC, serving first as an unpaid intern and eventually assuming duties as Triad’s General Manager, a new position which oversaw human resources, board relations, contract negotiations and day-to-day operations. Previously, he was Associate Managing Director at Yale Repertory Theater as well as Managing Director of the Dwight/Edgewood Project in New Haven, CT. David worked with senior leaders at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, MN as a Management Fellow and assisted the production team at Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS in New York, N.Y.

David received a Master of Fine Arts degree in Theater Management from Yale School of Drama and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Drama from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He has been a guest lecturer at Greensboro College, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, American Dance Festival and Westport Country Playhouse. He has also served as an adjudicator for the North Carolina Theater Conference.

“I am delighted to join the CBT family, working alongside talented students and artists, a dedicated faculty and stellar professional staff to bring thoughtful and engaging theater to Knoxville and beyond. The CBT is a thriving cultural resource for both the University of Tennessee and the greater East Tennessee community and I look forward to supporting its vision.”