Page 49 - July 2018 inLeague with Conference Program

Dan Sheehan graduated from the State University of New York at Fredonia with a BS in Sound Recording
Technology. He worked in the recording field in NYC until the end of 1990 and moved into live audio with a
summer job at Saratoga Performing Arts Center. He began working at Proctors as an audio engineer in 1991
and became Proctors’ Production Manager in 1995. In 2003 Proctors hired Philip Morris and planning began
for a $40 million expansion. In 2005 Dan became Proctors’ Operations Director and, at end of that year, the
new expanded stagehouse was opened. Since that time, Proctors has opened several other venues at the
Schenectady campus, as well as taking on Capital Repertory Theatre in downtown Albany and Universal
Preservation Hall in Saratoga. Upcoming projects include moving theRep into a new space, a $9 million
renovation of an old 1860’s bakery into a 330-seat theatre, and a $10 million renovation of Universal Preservation
Hall (an 1860’s Methodist Church) into a 700-concert venue.

Tony Sias is the newly appointed president and CEO of Karamu House, Inc., the nation’s oldest multicultural
arts institution, located in the heart of Cleveland’s historic Fairfax community. Under Tony’s direction, Karamu
-- Swahili for a joyful gathering place -- produces professional Theatre, provides Arts Education and, presents
Community Programs for all people, while honoring the African-American experience. Prior to Karamu House,
Tony was the Director of Arts Education for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) and Artistic
Director of Cleveland School of the Arts. A few of his favorite directing credits include West Side Story, Footloose,
Carmen Jones, Free Man of Color, A Decade of Dreams, In the Continuum, Summer Nights and Fireflies,
Dreamgirls, Guys and Dolls and Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting. His acting credits include On the Road with Duke,
Angels in America Parts 1 & 2, Black Eagles, Big River, Oak and Ivy, Jazz Poet on Broadway, and the title role in
the one-man show Paul Robeson. Among the many awards and recognitions Tony has received are the Ohio
House of Representatives Tribute for Excellent Leadership in CMSD’s All-City Arts Program, Outstanding Direction
for In the Continuum at Cleveland Public Theatre from Times Newspaper, Certificate of Special Congressional
Recognition for Contributions in Education and Cultural Arts, the Northern Ohio Live Award of Achievement
for his performance in Jazz Poet on Broadway (2002), and most recently, he was regarded as one of 2016’s
Most Interesting People presented by Cleveland Magazine. Tony co-authored the article, “Use of Live Theater
to Increase Minority Participation in Alzheimer’s Disease Research,” published in Alzheimer’s Disease and
Associates Disorders: An International Journal. In 2008-2009, Tony served as a delegate from the U.S. Department
of State in Istanbul, Turkey, representing the Council of International Programs, USA in the Engaging Marginalized
Youth Arts for Peace Project. He is a proud graduate of Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, with a
Bachelor of Science degree in dramatic art and a Master of Fine Arts in acting from The Ohio University, Athens,
Ohio.

Stephanie Silverman is Executive Director of the Belcourt Theatre in Nashville, TN and has been with the theatre
since 2007. The Belcourt is a nonprofit film house dedicated to presenting the best in contemporary & repertory
cinema from around the world. The historic 1925 theatre once housed the Grand Ole Opry and is now nationally
recognized as one of the country’s best art house theatres for both its programmatic vision and fiscal stability.
Silverman serves as treasurer and founding member of the leadership group for the Art House Convergence,
an organization founded by the directors of leading art houses across the U.S. to act as a support organization
for theatres at all levels of maturity and stability through research, mentoring and an annual conference. Prior
to her tenure with the Belcourt, Silverman worked for several nonprofit arts organizations including the Dance
Center of Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, IL; John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI; founded
the Arts on the Green Festival in Omaha, NE. She also worked with RMS Titanic, Inc. (now Premier Exhibitions)
and artist management agency Exceptional Artists and has served as a panelist at the League of Historic
American Theatres national conference, the National Performance Network Conference, and the Art House
Convergence. She lives with her husband and four children in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee.

Lynne King Smith is a co-founder and CEO of TicketForce - one of just several women C-suite executives in
ticketing. With over 20-years in the technology field, she is also a writer, blogger, lover of social media, and
loves to share ideas about using technology across markets. King Smith is a frequent presenter via webinars
and national conferences, including Association of Arts Presenters (APAP), International Association of Venue
Managers (IAVM), International Ticketing Association (INTIX), and The League of Historic American Theatres
(LHAT). Format includes formal presentations, round-table discussions and one-on-one consulting. Lynne has
received the Most Influential Women in Arizona award from the AZ Biz Journal and the Most Admired Leaders
in Phoenix from the Phoenix Business Journal. Her leadership at TicketForce with a focus on positive company
culture has resulted in being voted one of the Best Places to Work in Arizona 2 years in a row. This fall, she
will open Thrive Coworking for Women, a workspace devoted to creating a strong community of women in
business.
42nd National Conference & Theatre Tour July 2018 INLEAGUE | PAGE 47