Entrances and Exits. We've Never Shied Away From Change.
Top (Left to Right): Anh-Thu Pham, Kevin Duong, Saymoukda Vongsay // Bottom (Left to Right): Wesley Mouri, Audrey Park, Lily Tung Crystal
This week, Theater Mu announced Anh-Thu T. Pham as its next Managing Director. The staffing transition began on July 7 when Pham stepped into the role and will end as outgoing Managing Director Shannon Fitzgerald officially steps out on July 31.
“I can’t express how excited I am to have Anh as my partner on this Mu adventure. It’s invaluable to have a leader whose experiences in art and business equally match her dedication to social justice and community building. There’s so much that we’ll learn from one another and that she’ll bring to Mu.”
LILY TUNG CRYSTAL, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are thrilled to have Anh joining our small but mighty organization. Her expertise and passions will be a great addition to our leadership and staff. We can’t wait for you to get to know her and hopefully in the near future see her in person!”
REGGIE REYES, BOARD CHAIR
“I’m so excited to be joining the team. As a young person, I only saw representation of myself in images coming out of Asia. I love Theater Mu and the way it uses art to tell our Asian American stories, often from a Midwestern perspective. The spirit of Mu is invaluable and can't be found anywhere else.”
ANH-THU PHAM, MANAGING DIRECTOR
Pham’s hiring is part of three planned staff additions, which also include Wesley Mouri as Development Director and Saymoukda Vongsay as Mu’s Mellon Foundation Playwright in Residence. Though the pandemic and George Floyd’s murder altered the transition plan slightly, Mouri says he feels “inspired” by the unfaltering dedication of the staff.
“The current state of the world can sometimes feel overwhelming,” he says, “but I have been continuously impressed and encouraged by Mu’s ability to adapt and take action. We are not afraid to fight for change and face the world together, and for that, I'm so thankful."
“I'm so fortunate to have been a part of Mu over the past six years,” reflects Shannon Fitzgerald. “I'm proud of the art we've created, the community we've supported, and the family that Mu continues to be, through thick and thin. I'm looking forward to being part of the audience for all of the great work to come.”
“I’m so incredibly grateful to Shannon for all the remarkable work she has done to build Mu, including welcoming and partnering with me during my first year here,” says Tung Crystal. “I will miss her dearly, but I look forward to our continued friendship and wish her the best as she pursues an MBA and takes on her next chapter.”
“And I’ll be rooting for Mu as they begin theirs,” adds Fitzgerald.