Board Chair Kurt Crowl and President and CEO Linda Levy at the 2014 Helen Hayes Awards.

Shannon Finney

In announcing the retirement of President and CEO Linda Levy, Kurt Crowl, Chair of theatreWashington’s Board of Directors, shared this open letter with Washington area theatergoers and theater-makers.

To the Washington Theatre Community,

This year’s 31st annual Helen Hayes Awards was the first that Linda Levy ever missed. A supporter from the beginning – as a theatre coordinator and awards nominator – Linda knew first-hand the powerful effect of the Awards. She witnessed fledgling theatre companies become organizations of international renown and saw area theatres become the anchors of transforming neighborhoods. Her insights, humor and incredible hard work offered an endless wealth of support and inspiration to a theatre community that has grown from 14 to 90 professional theatres since the launch of the Awards.

Three decades later, Linda is retiring from her role as President and CEO of theatreWashington. As some of you know, Linda took a medical leave of absence in December following spinal reconstruction surgery. Since that time she has faced additional health challenges. While the prognosis is excellent, Linda feels the need to focus her energies entirely on regaining her good health. For those of us who have experienced her work ethic first hand, it’s hard to imagine her resting up, but we support her decision.

Speaking for the Board and staff, I wish her all the best as she works toward full recovery. It is with deep, deep gratitude that we recognize all that she has brought to the theatre community and to our organization, first as the Helen Hayes Awards and now as theatreWashington.  We send our best wishes for a bright and healthy future.

With great respect,

Kurt Crowl
 

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