For Immediate Release

 Contact: David Henderson, dhenderson@hartfordstage.org

860.520.7250, cell 917.488.9086

Hartford Stage Names Jill Adams

Hartford, CT, August 2, 2012 - Hartford Stage, under the leadership of Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak and Managing Director Michael Stotts, announced that Jill Adams has been elected to serve as the new President of the Tony Award-winning theatre's Board of Directors.

A seven-year veteran of the Board and a resident of North Granby, Adams is President and principal owner of the Adams & Knight advertising agency. A graduate of Catholic University and Boston University, Adams has worked with many of the area's industry giants, including Fidelity Investments, ING, The Hartford, Prudential, Sun Life Financial, MassMutual, and M Financial. Adams & Knight has amassed numerous creative awards across all disciplines and from such leading organizations as Boston Bellringers Association, the New York One Show, Web Marketing Association, Public Relations Society of America, and Communication Arts journal.

"I am very pleased that Jill Adams has agreed to serve as president of our Board," said Managing Director Mike Stotts. "Jill has been actively involved with Hartford Stage for years, providing expert counsel and the services of Adams & Knight for many of our marketing initiatives.  She most recently chaired the Artistic Director search committee that brought Darko Tresnjak to Hartford Stage. I very much look forward to Jill's leadership of our Board, and working with her on several initiatives, including the theatre's upcoming 50th Anniversary Season."

Adams succeeds Paul L. Bourdeau, who completed his two-year term as President in June.

Other officers elected for the 2012-13 season are Nadine Francis West of Hartford as Vice President; Sue Ann Collins of West Hartford as Treasurer; and David R. Jimenez of Simsbury as Secretary.

West, who has also served on the Hartford Stage Board for seven years, is the Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer for the MetroHartford Alliance.  Collins, a Hartford Stage Board member for six years, is a consulting actuary with the Windsor office of Milliman. Jimenez, a partner at Jackson Lewis, has served on the Board for five years.  He currently chairs the firm's Corporate Governance Practice Group.

Hartford Stage Company

Hartford Stage, since its founding in 1963, has been known for innovative revivals of classics and the development of important new works, including 65 World or American premieres. Recent work includes Quiara Alegria Hudes'Water by the Spoonful, winner of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Drama; Horton Foote'sThe Orphans' Home Cyclewhich had a celebrated run at the Signature Theatre in New York during the 2009-2010 season; a landmark production of Harper Lee'sTo Kill a Mockingbird;the premieres of Michael Kramer'sDivine Rivalry;and Daniel Beaty'sResurrection (later retitledThrough the Night,which had a successful run off-Broadway during the 2010-11 season). In 1998 the theatre launched an unprecedented ten-year retrospective of Tennessee Williams, which included the premiere of three plays. Other new work includes the premieres of Eve Ensler'sNecessary Targets, Edward Albee'sAt Home at the Zoo,Matthew Barber'sEnchanted April(which transferred to Broadway), Matthew Lombardo'sTea at Five, and many others. The theatre has earned numerous distinguished honors, including a Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, the Margo Jones Award, OBIE awards, New York Critics Circle and Drama Desk awards. In 2005 Hartford Stage was awarded The Hartford Courant's Tapestry Award recognizing its outstanding work in diversity, and in 2008 it was awarded the Bank of America Neighborhood Builder's Award recognizing its excellence in building community in Greater Hartford. Hartford Stage is currently under the leadership of Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak and Managing Director Michael Stotts.