Borenstein ’97 Named Managing Director of Long Wharf Theatre

After a national search, Joshua Borenstein ’97 was appointed managing director of Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, Conn., confirmed by unanimous vote at a special session of the Board of Trustees.

“Josh was simply the best candidate. Because of our national search, his skills and qualification for the position became more and more clear to us on the Board of Trustees,” said Charles Kingsley, board chair, in a press release. “He’s been serving as the interim managing director for the past six months and he’s done a wonderful job. Josh has the total confidence of the Board, the staff and Gordon.”

Gordon Edelstein, artistic director, praised Borenstein for his combination of “wisdom, strength, practical theatrical knowhow with strategic savvy.”

This will be Borenstein’s second stint at Long Wharf Theatre, serving in various capacities from 2003 to 2007, most recently as its associate managing director.  In that position, he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organization, including finance, human resources, contract negotiations, labor relations, and facilities. He had previously served as interim managing director in 2006.

“I am honored and excited to be returning to Long Wharf,” said Borenstein in the release. “The work is outstanding, and it is an important cultural asset to both the region, as well as the national theatre community.”

He was recently a project manager with AMS in Fairfield, Conn., leading projects in strategic planning, cultural facility development, and market analysis. He was also the lead researcher for Culture Track 2011, a comprehensive national study on arts participation that was released earlier this year.

Prior to his tenure at Long Wharf Theatre, Borenstein was at the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston through Theatre Communication Group’s “New Generations:  Mentoring the Leaders of Tomorrow” program.  He also served in various roles at Yale Repertory Theatre in New Haven and at Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, R.I.  While at Trinity Rep, Borenstein began a partnership between the theater and a children’s psychiatric hospital.

At Wesleyan, Borenstein majored in classical civilization, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and earned his degree with honors. He earned a master of fine arts in theater management from the Yale School of Drama; he has been a guest lecturer at Yale University and at Boston University.