DALLAS (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — The Dallas Center for the Performing Arts
announced that it has promoted Michael Rilley to the position of
senior vice president and chief operating officer in preparation for its
opening in October 2009. As the Center's first-ever COO, Mr. Rilley will
oversee all operations of the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts as
it transitions from the capital campaign, design and construction phases
to a fully-functioning performing arts center. The Center will be a
multi-venue campus presenting the seasons of its five resident
companies, performances from a resident fine arts presenter, TITAS, as
well as a Broadway series, the Brinker International Forum, concerts and
other programs.
"With the opening of the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts drawing
closer, it is now time to implement our business plan for the Center's
operations," said Howard Hallam, chair of the Center's Board of
Directors. "With multiple venues, a 10-acre park and more than 600
performances each year, the operations of a performing arts center on a
scale such as ours will be complex. Having a chief operating officer who
focuses solely on these aspects of the business will help the Center run
smoothly and will complement the role of the chief executive officer.
With already two years of experience with our organization, Michael
Rilley is perfectly suited to take on this role."
As chief operating officer, Michael Rilley will manage the entire patron
experience. On the artistic administration side, he will work with the
Center's resident companies-The Dallas Opera, Dallas Theater Center,
Texas Ballet Theater, Dallas Black Dance Theatre and Anita N. Martinez
Ballet Folklorico-as well as TITAS, the Center's fine arts resident
presenter, to schedule their performances in the Center. He will also
oversee the Center's programming, including the Lexus Broadway series
and Brinker International Forum. Mr. Rilley will also be responsible for
all of the behind-the-scenes operations that affect the audience
experience, including the box office, food service, labor relations,
security and facilities management.
Mr. Rilley joined the staff of the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts
in 2006 as vice president of operations. He has nearly 20 years of
experience in the cultural arts including responsibility for booking
performances for the legendary Chicago Theatre and the Shubert Theater
in New Haven, Connecticut. Mr. Rilley served as the special projects
manager for the Greater Columbus Arts Council, the city's official
cultural agency, from 1993 until 1996, where he assisted in the
production of the Columbus Arts Festival and other special projects. He
worked as vice president of programming and business development for the
Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) in 1997. In that
capacity, Mr. Rilley handled performance bookings for five theaters,
including the Chicago and Shubert Theaters. He has also served as the
general manager of the Chicago Theatre.
Mr. Rilley holds a bachelors degree in political science and a doctorate
of jurisprudence degree from the University of Akron. –by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
