Inside Broadway has announced Katie McAllister as its executive director. McAllister will oversee the programming of the nonprofit that exposes New York City public school students to Broadway through in-school performances and after-school programs.
McAllister is a longtime member of Inside Broadway’s team, having served as program director for over 17 years.
“I am delighted to be appointing my long-serving colleague, Katie McAllister, as our new executive director,” said Michael Presser, founder, president and CEO of Inside Broadway in a statement. “Over her long career at Inside Broadway, Katie has been a valuable collaborator in helping to develop our organization and her knowledge of arts and education has helped make our programs much loved by our school partners. I am eagerly looking forward to a continued collaboration and the future of Inside Broadway.”
McAllister began her career in arts education at Maryland Hall Story Theatre in Annapolis, Maryland. Prior to her tenure as program director, McAllister was a teaching artist with Inside Broadway. A graduate of the University of Maryland, she is the 2007 recipient of the Herbert Birch Friendship Award for Excellence in Arts and Education.
“The arts are for everyone, no matter where you come from or who you are,” McAllister said in a statement. “As a kid, being in theater gave me a sense of self and a community to be a part of. The arts give students the chance to explore new worlds through the creative process and help to build empathy and understanding for themselves and others.”
Inside Broadway’s programming includes bringing abbreviated performances of currently running Broadway productions to New York City schools. Several times a year, Inside Broadway’s “Creating the Magic” program brings students into a Broadway theater for a special musical presentation and a discussion with actors, creatives and stagehands. Inside Broadway’s scope includes all grades from kindergarten through 12th grade. Its programming reaches approximately 75,000 students each year.
Founded in 1982 by Presser, Inside Broadway’s first initiative provided free weekly matinée tickets to the original production of “Cats,” a program spearheaded by then-president of the Shubert Organization, Bernard B. Jacobs.
