Manuel Prieto Joins Boston Court Pasadena

PASADENA – ColoradoBoulevard.net:

Prieto joins Artistic Director Jessica Kubzansky as co-leader of the Arts Center Celebrating its 20th Anniversary.

By News Desk

Following an extensive national search, the Board of Directors of Boston Court Pasadena announced that Manuel Prieto has joined the organization as its Executive Director.

Prieto will co-lead the organization with Artistic Director Jessica Kubzansky, who was one of two Founding Artistic Directors at its inception in 2003. Prieto began work on August 1, 2023.

“We are excited that Manny has joined the organization as Executive Director,” noted Edward Rada, Chair of the Board of Directors, in making the announcement. “His deep passion for the variety of programming at Boston Court, as well as his commitment to building community partnerships and expanding relationships for the organization make him the perfect person to partner with Jessica to lead the organization into its next 20 years.” Kubzansky added, “I could not be more thrilled to work with Manny, whose advocacy and creative strategic thinking I so admire. I am delighted by the opportunity to dream the organization forward together.”

Prieto comes to Boston Court from Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills where he serves as Director of Education. He previously served as Executive Director of Los Angeles Music and Art School (LAMusArt) from 2015-2022 where he programmed and produced multidisciplinary performances for diverse and new audiences, launched the Young Professionals Board (comprised of millennials interested in philanthropy), led the development of two five-year strategic plans, and more than doubled the budget to $1,500,000 annually. Prieto holds a Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Management from Antioch University and BFA in Theater Design from the University of Southern California.

Prieto said:

I am humbled and inspired to serve as Boston Court’s new Executive Director. A long-time admirer, I am tremendously excited for the opportunity to lead an organization that holds a torch for artistic audacity, and I’m delighted to work in tandem with Jessica, who has been committed to the organization since its inception. I look forward to working with the board, committed staff, and team of artists to bring the community of Pasadena and beyond bold and necessary work. As the organization celebrates its 20th anniversary, we’re excited to both honor our history and continue to innovate.”

Boston Court opened its doors in 2003. Since that time, the organization has produced 63 fully-staged theatrical productions, more than 350 concerts, 18 new play reading festivals, dozens of visual art exhibits, and more than 40 National Theatre Live screenings. Boston Court productions have traveled to theaters across Los Angeles and to New York City, Boston, and Houston. The company has been honored with many awards, including the Polly Warfield Award for excellent season (2017) by a small to midsize theater from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, and is a two-time winner of the prestigious National Theatre Company Grant from the American Theatre Wing (2012 & 2018), which is awarded to only ten companies across the country each year.

The 20th Anniversary season will conclude with the world premiere production of Measure STILL for Measure, written and directed by Jessica Kubzansky,  Boston Court’s first-ever immersive play will take audiences on a journey behind the curtain and throughout the building to experience the joys and complexities of theater. Measure STILL for Measure plays September 7 – October 15, 2023 and tickets are available through the Boston Court Box Office at 626.683.6801 or this website.