Theatre Bay Area Welcomes Dana Harrison as new Managing Director by / Clayton Lord

Theatre Bay Area, one of the country’s largest regional arts service organizations and the Bay Area’s support organization for theatre and dance artists and companies, is pleased to welcome Dana Harrison as its new managing director. Harrison, a former executive at Charles Schwab and Bank of America, brings 30 years of experience building and managing large-scale operations to Theatre Bay Area, and will oversee a multiyear expansion of programming for theatre and dance artists, companies and patrons in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Harrison succeeds Cara Chrisman, a 15-year veteran of the organization who rose from a ticketing services staff member to become deputy director of Theatre Bay Area, and whose careful accounting has helped Theatre Bay Area flourish during the economic downturn. Harrison will pick up where Chrisman left off, using her extensive business background in finance, accounting, technology and strategic planning to assist executive director Brad Erickson and Theatre Bay Area’s staff to maintain and expand the organization’s ticketing, mentorship, research and journalism programs.

“I am passionate about the role the arts play in creating a thriving cultural environment and a richer community,” says Harrison, “and look forward to the opportunity to contribute to the stability and growth of Theatre Bay Area and to be a part of this vital organization’s leadership team.”

In addition to a substantial background in corporate finance, Harrison also served as the director of business services for Black Rock City, the umbrella organization responsible for the Burning Man festival, and helped that organization to grow into a larger, more stable organization.

“While I am truly sad to be losing my colleague, Cara Chrisman, and want to thank her for her fifteen years of service to Theatre Bay Area and wish her all the best, I am excited to begin a new partnership with Dana Harrison,” says Theatre Bay Area executive director Brad Erickson. “Dana’s background in both the for- and non-profit world and deep knowledge of best business practices promises to help Theatre Bay Area continue to thrive and grow in the coming years.”

Harrison began transitioning into her new role in early December, and will be fully integrated into the organization by the new year.