Sarah Bartlo-Chaplin Appointed President & CEO Of State Theatre New Jersey

On May 10, 2018

Following an extensive search, State Theatre New Jersey Board Chairman Scott Fergang announced the appointment of Sarah Bartlo-Chaplin a 22-year veteran of arts administration and leadership, as the seventh President and Chief Executive Officer of State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick. Bartlo-Chaplin comes to the State Theatre from The National Theatre Corporation in Washington, DC, where she served for three-and-a-half years as the Executive Director. Bartlo-Chaplin will assume her duties on August 6.

“We are elated to have an individual with Sarah’s experience join us as we look to begin the next chapter in the State Theatre’s exciting history,” said Scott Fergang, chair of the State Theatre New Jersey board of trustees. “It is Sarah’s arts management skills, her deep understanding of building community, and her work with renowned national and international artists that will propel State Theatre New Jersey to a new level of success.”

The CEO search was led by the State Theatre Board CEO Search Committee, steered by State Theatre Trustee Wendy Wiebalk, with support from the executive search firm, Management Consultants for the Arts.

“Speaking on behalf of the CEO search committee, we are thrilled that Sarah Bartlo-Chaplin has agreed to take the helm as we approach our second century of providing world renowned programs and arts access to the community,” said Wendy Wiebalk, State Theatre New Jersey trustee and chair of the CEO Search Committee. “We conducted a thorough search process and were quite taken by Sarah’s reputation for excellence in the arts community, as well as her passion for inclusive programming and community outreach.”

As State Theatre President and CEO, Sarah Bartlo-Chaplin will set the artistic vision of the theater; create and direct strategic plans; oversee day-to-day operations; and continue to strengthen the financial position of the organization through fundraising, sales, investments, and ancillary revenue streams. She will also lead board development, along with the executive and nominating committees. Bartlo-Chaplin will work closely with the Board of Trustees to ensure that the State Theatre remains a vibrant institution for the benefit of the people of Middlesex County and the entire region.

“I am extremely honored to join the passionate and committed staff and board of directors of State Theatre New Jersey as they look to the future of the institution,” said Sarah Bartlo-Chaplin. “The opportunity for building on the historic State Theatre’s vibrancy and relevance makes this a truly exciting time to be part of a wonderful institution and I look forward to becoming part of the
community that obviously values its many contributions.”

Since 2015, Bartlo-Chaplin has served as the executive director of The National Theatre Corporation in Washington, DC. In her role at the National Theatre, Bartlo-Chaplin worked on the revitalization of the historic venue through strategic planning, brand identity, and capital improvements. During her tenure, Bartlo-Chaplin increased income by 40%, which included the first major grants from the DC Commission on Arts and Humanities in the organization’s history. Through strong financial management focused on revenue generation and expense control, the organization finished FY17 with an operating surplus for the first time in almost a decade. Bartlo-Chaplin also led capital improvement projects which included a $1.5M replacement of the theater’s rope-and-sandbag rigging system during the summer of 2017.

Prior to her time at the National Theatre Corporation, Bartlo-Chaplin worked for SMG, a national venue management company. At SMG she served as general manager for the National Theatre in Washington, DC; facility director for the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts in Jacksonville, Florida; and theater director for Peery’s Egyptian Theater in Ogden, Utah.

Prior to her work at SMG, Bartlo-Chaplin served as Associate Managing Director at San Diego Repertory Theatre as well as Yale School of Drama/Yale Repertory Theatre as Senior Associate Director of Development and Alumni Affairs.

A Utah native, Bartlo-Chaplin received a Bachelor of Science in Theatre Arts from Weber State University and a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Management from Yale University, School of Drama.

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