Wheelock Family Theatre Names Executive Director

Wheelock College is pleased to announce that Linda Chin has joined Wheelock Family Theatre as Executive Director. Ms. Chin succeeds Wendy Lement who previously served as Producer of Wheelock Family Theatre (WFT). Ms. Chin has been a long-time WFT Advisory Board member and will be spearheading continued efforts at providing innovative, high caliber productions. She is dedicated to helping WFT thrive through continued artistic excellence.

An experienced community and institution builder, educator, and arts advocate, Ms. Chin brings a wealth of experience to WFT, greater Boston’s premier theatre company, serving families with professional, affordable theatre. The Theatre realizes the mission of Wheelock College to improve the lives of children and families. Ms. Chin has been deeply engaged with WFT for over 10 years, serving as a board member. In her new role, she will provide leadership and be responsible for the implementation of the Theatre’s mission and coordination of the operational and artistic management of the Theatre. Working with WFT’s staff, she will ensure the financial stability of the Theatre though marketing, development, fundraising and grant initiatives.

“Linda Chin is a proven and bold leader who is passionate about theatre’s potential to transform lives,” said Wendy Lement, departing Producer of Wheelock Family Theatre. “Linda’s reputation for excellence and innovation will be an asset to the Theatre and especially to the strong and dedicated team that remains committed to the Theatre and its mission.”

Ms. Chin comes from EF Education First in Cambridge where she served as a community consultant supporting host families and international students. Previous experience includes President & Executive Director of the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence— New England’s premier provider of culturally-specific domestic violence shelter and support programs for Asian communities. Additional experience includes Cambridge Public Schools, Cambridge Health Alliance and Tufts Medical Center. She is a graduate of Yale University and Harvard School of Public Health.

Departing Producer of Wheelock Family Theatre, Wendy Lement will be maintaining her position of Artistic Director of Theatre Espresso and will also co-chair the 2016 American Alliance for Theatre and Education conference: “Engaging Diversity: The Intersection of Theatre, History and Activism.”

The College has valued Ms. Lement for her many contributions to WFT and to Wheelock College. She held an unwavering commitment to the theatre’s mission of inclusion. Under her leadership WFT won the 2013 Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing’s “Outstanding Organization of the Year” award, and also spearheaded the world premiere of Suzan Zeder’s celebrated Ware Trilogy, co-directing The Taste of Sunrise (a bilingual play of spoken English and ASL), which received very positive reviews. Under her guidance, the College created a course in Playwriting for Wheelock students and the development of the Emerging Playwrights Program [EPP], inspiring Boston students to develop their creative voices.

“We will miss Wendy’s collaborative spirit, artistic integrity, and dedication to WFT,” said Roy Schifilliti, vice president for Administration at Wheelock College. “On behalf of the Wheelock community, we wish her all the best for the future - in her creative, academic, and other professional endeavors.”

WFT believes that live theatre has the power to transform lives and its work is intended to go a long way to supporting those who are historically under-served. Through its education program, established in 1983, WFT has served thousands of young people with performances and enrichment opportunities designed to support intellectual, emotional, creative, and social development through drama activities. At a time when many public schools are decreasing or eliminating opportunities for students to practice or appreciate the arts, WFT drama classes, educational partnerships with schools, and student matinees often provide a child’s only experience with professional theatre.

The Theatre has begun its 35th season with E. B. White’s award-winning story The Trumpet of the Swan running through November 22nd. For tickets and more information, please visit http://www.wheelockfamilytheatre.org/