Stephen J. Albert
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Nov. 6, 1951 - Dec. 29, 2017
Stephen Albert was born a big dreamer in Kittery, Maine. He graduated from the University of Southern California, and earned an MBA from the UCLA Graduate School of Management. Albert began his career in senior management positions with the Mark Taper Forum/Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles where he worked for over a decade, eventually becoming Managing Director. His vision then led him to Houston’s Alley Theatre where he became Executive Director. Stephen led a turnaround that stabilized the organization, enabling the Alley to return to a national standing, and drove a capital campaign that secured the organization’s future. This would have been a great achievement for any career- but Stephen was not done dreaming. Albert began a partnership with Mark Lamos at Hartford Stage, which resulted in some of the theatre’s most successful seasons and reinforced Hartford Stage’s position at the forefront of the regional theatre movement. Wanting more for Hartford audiences, Stephen led an initiative to create a 25,000 square foot, state-of-the-art production center, securing the donation of the facility and the funding for its renovation. Continuing to dream big for the arts, Albert served as president of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT) and as a board member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG). As a creative artist, Stephen wrote and produced a variety of productions for television, was an ACE award nominee, and an associate producer of numerous acclaimed Broadway productions, most notably The Piano Lesson in 1990. The year 2000 found Stephen continuing to dream as a founding partner in Albert Hall & Associates, LLC- becoming a leading arts consulting firm. AH&A helped organizations protect their mission while navigating the ever-changing terrain that confronts arts organizations. Within a decade, the firm had a significant impact in the arts through its executive placement of over 130 executives to lead the charge. Stephen dreamed big and taught others how. Early 2009 found Albert serving as a management consultant to Court Theatre. The dreamer found a home in a theater poised to break new ground amid the community surrounding the University of Chicago. By August 2010, Albert joined Court Theatre as Executive Director where a new partnership was formed with Artistic Director Charles Newell. Daughter Jessica Albert spoke of her Dad, "I watched him take hold of a regional theater that had not been very connected to its community. He went to a different church every week to meet people. He wanted to share his passion and his love with everyone." During his tenure, the organization opened the Center for Classic Theatre, a unique model displaying how a professional theatre can reside at a major research University. Additionally, Court Theatre added world premieres of new adaptations, grew their annual budget by 50%, secured an off-site production center, expanded community engagement, and renewed the Court's Board of Trustees. The dreamer gifted a tremendous legacy to inspire the next generation of dreamers and art makers. Stephen is survived by his wife Terri and daughter Jessica. |